Land Warfare Vol5 #4

Volume 5 Number 4
August/September 2014
Into
Africa
Modernisation push
ISRAELS
CHOICE
UPGRADE
OPTIONS
BANG ON
TARGET
Procurement focus
Modern assault rifles
Artillery developments
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CONTENTS
Front cover: The Puma APC has been
acquired by Kenya and Malawi.
(Photo: OTT Technologies)
Editor
Tim Fish.
tim.f@shephardmedia.com
Tel: +44 (0)1753 727036
North America Editor
Scott R Gourley.
scott.g@shephardmedia.com
Tel: +1 (707) 822 7204
European Editor
Ian Kemp. ian.k@shephardmedia.com
Contributors
Claire Apthorp, Gordon Arthur,
Mike Bryant, Liza Helps,
Helmoed-Rmer Heitman,
Neelam Mathews, Stephen Miller,
David Saw
Production Manager
David Hurst. david.h@shephardmedia.com
Tel: +44 (0)1753 727029
Sub-editor
Adam Wakeling
Advertising Sales Executive
Brian Millan. brian.m@shephardmedia.com
Tel: +44 (0)1753 727005
Editor-in-Chief
Tony Skinner
Managing Director
Darren Lake
Chairman
Nick Prest
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ISSN 2042-5317
3 EDITORIAL COMMENT

Militant tendency
4 NEWS

Russia to counter sanctions with increased
army spend

Loc wins Bradley IFV mobility contract

European land consolidation edges closer

Djibouti parades new acquisitions

PLA displays new small arms at open day
10 TOUGH CUSTOMERS

African armies have struggled with underfunding
and sustained civil unrest over the years, but the
requirement for modern equipment is now becoming
critical, finds Helmoed-Rmer Heitman.
15 A BRIGHT SPOT

Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have
demonstrated the advantages of equipping every
soldier with optical sights to improve situation
awareness and lethality. Ian Kemp explores the
evolution of this technology.
19 BANG ON TARGET

Technologies are now available to greatly increase
the accuracy of indirect fires. David Saw details the
decades-long quest for precision and examines the
guided munition options currently on the market.
24 HARD CHOICES

Combat operations in Gaza have shown that the
combined arms team remains at the heart of Israels
ground forces. Ian Kemp reports on army
modernisation efforts in the face of competing
budget pressures.
33
28 PULLING THE TRIGGER

Bullpup or traditional? Upgrade or acquisition?
Tim Fish examines how militaries around the world
are approaching their current and future inventory
of assault rifles, and what new trends are emerging.
33 BODY OF WORK

Soldier modernisation efforts around the world are
resulting in some exciting developments in body
armour, with unprecedented levels of protection,
mobility and functionality being promised.
Adam Wakeling reviews recent developments.

PARTING SHOT
36 ACCESSING AFRICA

Stephan Burger, CEO of Denel Land Systems,
talks to Helmoed-Rmer Heitman about the African
marketplace and how the company will position
itself for exports.
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Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL
08/08/2014 15:05:47
LWI_AugSep14_p02.indd 2
08/08/2014 15:07:32
EDITORIAL COMMENT
MILITANT
TENDENCY
A
s Land Warfare International goes to press

Somalias President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud announced a push by African
Union and government forces to remove the
al-Shabaab militant group from its remaining
strongholds in the country. Despite continuing
attacks in Mogadishu it is thought that this
latest effort Operation Indian Ocean will
allow the government to increase its control
over the country.
Over the past few months, as fighting in
Ukraine and Gaza adds to the conflicts already
raging across the Middle East, events in Africa
have been somewhat overshadowed.
Russia is already facing Western sanctions
on armaments and the result is increased
defence spending to make up the difference
(see p4). Meanwhile, talks about sanctions on
Israel may affect some of the procurement
plans of the IDF (see p24) but it is unlikely that
these will be implemented if the current Gaza
ceasefire holds and the situation is defused.
In Libya, levels of fighting have increased in
recent weeks resulting in the evacuation of
foreign nationals, while in northern Mali
insurgents are stubbornly resisting UN and
French efforts to remove them. France and the
UN are also struggling to contain ethnic
violence in the Central African Republic where
the president and cabinet have just left office.
ON A MISSION
In July France initiated a new counter-terror

mission Operation Barkhane to test its
capabilities in the region on the back of its
deployment to Mali under Operation Serval.
Barkhane will include some force elements
from Serval as part of an effort to bolster
LWI_AugSep14_p03_Comment.indd 3
the development of sovereign capabilities for

support and modernisation of equipment,
including sustained manufacturing of munitions
and spares, plus systems integration.
The SADR also calls for equipment designed
for operating in African conditions including
tactical vehicles, artillery and medical
capabilities.
regional cooperation stretching from the

Atlantic coast and across the Sahel. A force of
about 3,000 troops will be commanded from
NDjamena, the capital of Chad, and it will
include about 20 helicopters, 200 armoured
vehicles likely to be VBCIs, VABs and ERC 90s,
ten transport aircraft, six Mirage or Rafale
fighter jets and three Harfang UAS.
Using other bases across the region,
Operation Barkhane is expected to include the
participation of forces from Burkina Faso, Chad,
Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
France sees security in the Sahel as directly
linked to its own, feelings shared by the US
which, under AFRICOM, has been running the
Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership
for some years that includes military-to-military
cooperation with Sahel states as well as
targeted diplomatic efforts.
For industry, attention is focused on the
Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition in
Pretoria. As one of the continents most
modern military powers, South Africa has
some serious decisions to take about what role
it wants to play in contributing to security in
Africa, and if it will pay for it.
Procurement across Africa reflects
immediate security concerns typical to each
area, but there is recognition among
governments that insurgent groups aiming to
de-stabilise various states are much better
armed than in years past, requiring a more
formidable and better equipped national army
to oppose them (see p10).
Following the release of the South African
Defence Review (SADR) in March 2014, there will
be a focus on long-term equipment plans and
building a stronger relationship with industry, and
NATIONAL PRIORITY
Companies will have to be more than half

owned and run by South Africans to qualify to
compete for high-end sovereign projects.
Those that are more than a quarter owned and
run can qualify for lower-level projects and
will be considered after South African
companies.
Foreign companies based in South Africa
can only compete for large projects if they can
offer uninterrupted through-life support. Local
subsidiaries of foreign companies can go for
standard projects as long as they can show a
long-term commitment to South Africa, whilst
joint ventures can go for any project as long as
the intellectual property is secure.
As the main state-owned company, Denel is
looking ahead to what it can do in this
landscape (see p36) and is likely to take on the
most sensitive projects. However it is also able
to partner and sub-contract to private industry
and this is where the opportunities lie for other
local or international industrial players.
South Africa is keen to engage experienced
international defence firms, but it will have to
outline what capability packages it will fund
properly to give industry confidence to invest
in the future.
Tim Fish, Editor
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
l AFV innovation
l US Army programmes
l Night vision
l Grenades
08/08/2014 15:08:46
NEWS
RUSSIA TO COUNTER SANCTIONS

WITH INCREASED ARMY SPEND
Photo: Russian MoD
The Russian government plans to increase

defence spending to one quarter of the federal
budget by 2017.
This is due to sanctions imposed on the
country, which has resulted in the suspension
of imports of many military products and
technologies from abroad. The majority of
funds will be allocated for the purchase of new
weapons for the Russian Army.
The country is looking at ways to replace
supplies of non-Russian equipment and
imported components that have been
suspended.
According to an MoD spokesperson, a

significant part of the funds will be allocated to
replace the Astais-VBL programme that involved
developing a 4x4 ATV jointly by Russias Astais
and Renault Trucks Defense of France.
It is planned that Astais-VBL will be replaced
by Ansyr, a new Russian armoured vehicle
developed Bauman Moscow State Technical
University that weighs 4t and is designed
for special military operations, patrolling and
escorting.
The three-seat vehicle will be fitted with a
180hp engine and can achieve a top speed
of up to 125km/h. It is equipped with
independent suspension and an amphibious
capability, allowing it to stay in the water for at
least an hour and move in waves of up to 30cm.
It is planned that production of the first set of
vehicles will start in early 2015, although final
numbers have not been decided.
Under the earlier Astais-VBL project, there
were plans to produce a pilot batch of five to
ten units this year followed by serial production
in 2015. According to sources close to the
programme, the initial investment is thought to
have been in the range of $50-70 million.
The Astais-VBL effort is not the only

programme to suffer from sanctions. Earlier this
year, Renault Trucks Defense was reported to
have frozen development of the Atom IFV,
first presented last year and developed in
cooperation with Burevestnik a subsidiary of
UralVagonZavod.
Furthermore, German manufacturer
Rheinmetall suspended its cooperation with
the Russian MoD to build a military training
centre for ground troops near NizhnyNovgorod. The construction work was
scheduled to be completed at the end of
2014 at an estimated cost of 100 million
($134.2 million).
The sanctions have already resulted in the
revision of projects for the production of
new small arms by Russian company
Promtechnologii. The barrels for its weapons
were supplied from the US.
Until recently, Ukraine supplied the
majority of weapon components from outside
Russia, with about 4.4% of Russian products
containing Ukrainian parts, particularly in the
intercontinental ballistic missile sector.
By Eugene Gerden, St Petersburg
LOC WINS BRADLEY IFV CONTRACT

Loc Performance Products will perform work
to enhance the mobility of the US Armys
Bradley IFV under a $161 million contract
announced on 30 July.
The firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery,
indefinite-quantity contract was awarded by
US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management
Command.
The contract will see vehicle modifications
carried out as part of Engineering Change
Proposal (ECP-1) upgrades. Loc will install
track kits, shock absorber kits, vehicle

suspension support system kits, and
heavyweight torsion bar kits, all of which will
improve the Bradleys mobility.
As well as performing the work, Loc will
provide logistics support, including vehicle
inspections, new equipment training and
a 10km road test for each upgraded vehicle.
Company president Lou Burr said: This
award represents a watershed moment in
procurement history for the US Army. This type
LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4
LWI_AugSep14_p04-05_News.indd 4
of contract is normally sole-sourced to the

original prime contractor, which typically
does not result in best value for the army.
Because this was a full and open competition,
the army saves taxpayers millions of
dollars, and demonstrates a new model for
cost-effective procurement.
We look forward to restoring lost mobility
to the Bradley IFV, and providing this superior
equipment to our warfighters.
By Claire Apthorp, London
08/08/2014 15:09:56
NEWS
EUROPEAN LAND
CONSOLIDATION
EDGES CLOSER
NEWS ON THE WEB

Excalibur Ib cleared for
full-rate production
1 August 2014
Logos wins hostile fire detection

and location work
31 July 2014
Javelins vehicle-launch
capability demonstrated
30 July 2014
Successful GMLRS Alternate

Warhead flight tests complete
29 July 2014
The KMW Leopard 2 MBT (left) and Nexter VBCI (right). (Photos: author)
French military vehicles manufacturer Nexter and

German armaments producer KMW have signed
an agreement to create a joint holding company.
The two industrial giants signed the
agreement on 1 July, and the result will be the
creation of a Franco-German technology group
with an annual turnover of more than 2 billion
($2.68 billion). The alliance project is expected to
start in 2015 following regulatory approval.
In a statement, the companies said that they
viewed this step as decisive for the consolidation
of the defence technology industry in Europe
and that the alliance creates a group with
the momentum and innovative force required
to succeed and prosper in international
competition.
It added: In addition, it offers to its European
and NATO customers the opportunity of
increased standardisation and interoperability for
their defence equipment, with a dependable
industrial base.
The two sole owners will each have a 50%
share in the joint holding company, which will
become the sole shareholder in KMW and Nexter.
The two companies complement each other
in many ways. KMW is well known for producing
tracked vehicles such as the Leopard 2
MBT, Puma IFV and PzH 2000 self-propelled gun.
LWI_AugSep14_p04-05_News.indd 5
The company is also involved in the production

of wheeled armoured vehicles.
Nexter is mainly known for the production
of the Leclerc MBT and its range of wheeled
armoured vehicles, such as the VBCI IFV and the
Caesar 155mm truck-mounted artillery gun.
Although some of its products areas will
complement each other, there are some that will
not. There may be a clash in the field of wheeled
armoured vehicles, as KMW is in the ARTEC
Consortium with Rheinmetall building the 8x8
Boxer IFV, which is a direct competitor to the 8x8
Nexter VBCI for the Danish APC competition.
However, as domestic markets dry up in
Europe with continuing cuts to defence
expenditure, it has become ever more important
in the past few years to secure exports. The new
alliance will establish a formidable group to
compete against on the international stage.
It has been a long time coming, as the land
sector usually lags behind aerospace, where
European-level consolidation has advanced
more rapidly, with the formation of Airbus Group
and systems houses like Thales and MBDA.
This is an alternative to consolidation between
companies within France or Germany, and could
prove to be a trigger for others to follow suit.
By Tim Fish, London
MEADS system demo success

28 July 2014
General Dynamics wins Peruvian

Marine LAV contract
25 July 2014
Cubic receives I-MILES TVS

training contract
24 July 2014
Interest grows in APKWS

17 July 2014
Saab looks to fulfil Philippine air

defence requirements
17 July 2014
Microdata highlights crisis

response capabilities
17 July 2014
All these stories can be found

at www.landwarfareintl.com
08/08/2014 15:09:58
NEWS
DJIBOUTI PARADES NEW VEHICLES

The Djibouti Army used the occasion of the
countrys independence day celebration on
27 June to show off several new armoured
vehicle types that have been taken into service.
These included: BTR-80 APCs; 12 Force
Protection Cougar mine-protected APCs; and six
Puma 4x4 light APCs acquired from Italy and
re-armed with a Chinese 12.7mm W85 heavy
machine gun, part of a batch transferred in 2013.
The vehicles were paraded together with
M109 artillery guns, suggesting that they
are being used as command or scout vehicles
for the artillery. Some eight M109L selfpropelled guns were reportedly acquired from
Italy in mid-2013, which replaced its M109s
with the PzH 2000.
There were no tanks on parade and most

sources do not list Djibouti as operating such
platforms, but there have been reports of the
country acquiring 42 T-72s from Yemen. The
M109Ls, for their part, are a major boost in
firepower, as the armys artillery was previously
limited to just six towed 122mm D-30 guns and
eight BM-21 rocket launchers.
In January, the Djibouti Army also received a
donation of 26 Toyota Land Cruisers funded by
the US through its Foreign Military Assistance
programme as a quid pro quo for Djiboutis
deployment of some 1,000 soldiers in Somalia
to fight al-Shabaab.
Also on parade were a number of ex-South
African Army Ratel IFVs, Panhard AML light
armoured vehicles and a number of HMMWVs,

apparently mounting a light rocket launcher.
The Djibouti Army also operates Panhard VBL
scout cars, Casspir mine-protected APCs and
HMMWVs armed with Chinese or Russian heavy
machine guns (HMGs), as well as number of
technicals mainly 4x4 pick-ups with 12.7mm or
14.6mm HMGs. There are also some heavier
technicals that use a 6x6 truck as the platform.
The Djibouti Army has shown itself to be
quite creative in developing solutions to
meet its requirements. One example was the
integration of turrets from AML-90 light
armoured cars on BTR-60 APCs, providing a
useful combination of firepower and mobility.
By Helmoed-Rmer Heitman, South Africa
PLA DISPLAYS NEW SMALL ARMS AT OPEN DAY
Photo: author
The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)

displayed its new and recently acquired small
arms during the Hong Kong handover
celebrations on 1 July.
On the 17th anniversary of the return of Hong

Kong to China, the PLA held open days at several
military bases and demonstrated four weapons
that will be used by the Hong Kong garrison.
The Type 11 (QSZ11) pistol is a compact gun
chambered for 5.8x21mm rounds, and has an
eight-round cartridge. It is intended for senior
commanders, personal protection details and
aviators, but is not intended as a replacement
for the incumbent QSZ92 pistol. But the use of
5.8mm ammunition provides uniformity, since
the PLAs standard weapon is the 5.8mm Type
95 (QBZ-95) assault rifle.
The second weapon new to the garrison is the
Type 06 (QSW06) suppressed semi-automatic
pistol. Based on the QSZ92, it features a standard
20-round cartridge and is designed for special
forces. The silencer is detachable, and the
QSW06 replaces the Type 67 silenced pistol.
A third small arm was the QLG10A 35mm
underbarrel grenade launcher mounted on
a Type 95B-1 carbine. The updated grenade
launcher is based on the existing QLG10, but is
LWI_AugSep14_p06_News.indd 6
designed to fit the latest Type 95-1 rifle. This 1kg

launcher measures 230mm in length, and is
capable of firing ten grenades per minute.
The final weapon featured by the Hong
Kong Garrison was the Type 10 (QBU10)
12.7mm anti-materiel rifle that weighs 13.3kg.
For the QBU10, the PLA cites ranges of 1,000m
for human targets and 1,500m for materiel
targets. An IR sight/ballistic rangefinder was
shown fitted on the 1.38m-long rifle to give it a
night-fighting capacity.
The PLA conducted counter-terrorism drills
on two of its open days to demonstrate one of
its core competencies to Hong Kong citizens.
The demonstrations by special forces showed
that the newer Type 95-1 (QBZ95-1) assault rifle
is now in widespread use with Hong Kongbased soldiers.
The drills are significant, as tensions in the
territory are mounting because of a powerful
pro-democracy lobby and popular discontent
with the Beijing-appointed leadership.
By Gordon Arthur, Hong Kong
08/08/2014 15:10:33
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NEWS
Photo: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
TOKYO OUTLINES JGSDF CHANGES

Japan has outlined a number of wide-ranging
changes to its Ground Self-Defense Force
(JGSDF) that will allow the organisation to
improve its ability to rapidly respond to security
crises, following the release of the countrys
latest defence white paper in August.
The National Defense Program Guidelines,
published in December 2013, had previously
highlighted an increasingly severe security
situation and a desire to improve joint
operations.
Following these principles, the JGSDFs
Central Readiness Force is being replaced by
three rapid deployment divisions and four rapid
deployment brigades. 1 Armoured Division
will be retained and operate alongside an
airborne brigade, an amphibious rapid
deployment brigade and a helicopter brigade.
The JGSDFs regional deployment units will be
cut from eight divisions and six brigades down
to five divisions and two brigades. The surfaceto-ship guided missile units are to be kept at five
regiments, although the surface-to-air guided
missile units will be reduced by one to seven
anti-aircraft artillery regiments.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
Troop numbers are expected to remain at

existing levels of 151,000 active duty personnel
and 8,000 reserve-ready personnel, while
retaining about 400 tanks and 400 main artillery
guns, although these will now be distributed
differently throughout the five regional armies
(Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, Middle and
Western).
The white paper explained that to enable
swift and flexible operations, the JGSDF will
deploy mobile combat vehicles and remove
tanks deployed in basic operational units
stationed in locations other than Hokkaido
and Kyushu.
It continued: It will also concentrate tanks
located in Kyushu into newly organised tank
units under the direct command of the Western
Army. In addition, howitzers deployed in basic

operational units stationed in locations other
than Hokkaido will be concentrated into field
artillery units to be newly organised under
the direct command of the respective regional
armies.
To support a rapid reaction capability in
Japans outer areas, amphibious vehicles and
tiltrotor aircraft will be procured to allow an
advance deployment by the amphibious
brigade, backed by heavier units in ships and
transport aircraft.
MIDDLE GROUND
Under the New Mid-Term Defense Program,

the JGSDF plans to procure: 99 Maneuver
Combat Vehicles (MCVs); 24 armoured vehicles,
53 amphibious vehicles; 17 tiltrotor aircraft; six
CH-47JA transport helicopters; nine companies
of ship-to-ship guided missiles; five companies of
mid-range surface-to-air guided missiles; 44
tanks; and 31 howitzers.
As a result, the budget for new contracts
from FY2014 is expected to increase by 17.8% to
a quoted figure of 19,465 billion.
In terms of procurement, Japan has plans to
develop a strategy that takes into account the
future manufacturing and technology base as a
whole. This involves promoting international
joint development and adapting equipment
for joint military and civil use. The method of
procurement will also be reformed.
A project manager system will be
introduced so as to enhance consistent project
management throughout the life cycle from
equipment design to disposal, the white paper
stated. In addition, while utilising the private
sectors knowledge, the MoD will actively train
and appoint personnel to positions that require
specialised knowledge, skills and experience in
the acquisition of equipment.
Under research and development, the white
paper said that technological efforts in the land
sector will focus on air defence, looking at the
LWI_AugSep14_p08_News.indd 8
next generation of surface-to-air guided missiles

and a new air defence radar.
SHOWING OFF
Japan has already made initial efforts to enter

the export market. At Eurosatory in June, a
Japanese stand highlighted a range of mainly
non-combat technologies along with a model
of a new 8x8 wheeled combat vehicle from
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) based on
its MCV, available in APC, C2 and medical
evacuation variants.
The fourth prototype MCV (illustrated) was
rolled out by the Technical Research and
Development Institute in October 2013. It is a
105mm-armed 8x8 and has been developed to
meet a JGSDF requirement for a vehicle with
significant levels of firepower that can be easily
deployed by air, land or sea, unlike a heavier MBT.
Testing is being undertaken throughout
2014-2015 and the platform will be built by MHI
with entry into service expected in 2016. The
MCV can be carried by Japans Kawasaki C-2
tactical transport.
The model of the new 8x8 was fitted with bar
armour and a remote weapon station with .50cal
gun. It has similar dimensions to the MCV and a
full-size vehicle would be about 8m long and
2.98m wide with a height of about 2.8m and a
GVW of 28t. The vehicle has a quoted empty
weight of 18t so it offers a 10t payload capacity.
The engine is an MHI 4VA four-stroke, fourcylinder diesel that can offer 536shp of power.
The 8x8 is all-wheel drive and has independent,
double wishbone or hydro-pneumatic
suspension. The vehicle is fitted with 395/85R20
summer/winter tyres. It can achieve a maximum
speed of more than 100km/h and has space for
11 personnel (three crew and eight troops).
The medical evacuation variant will be fitted
with a compartment for injured troops and the
C2 variant will have an additional C4I system,
firing C2 system and a manoeuvre C2 system.
By Tim Fish, London
08/08/2014 15:12:18
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08/08/2014 13:28:24
REGIONAL FOCUS
African armies have struggled with

underfunding and sustained civil unrest over
the years, but the requirement for modern
equipment is now becoming critical, finds
Helmoed-Rmer Heitman.
fricas armies have long been neglected,

making do with old equipment and
vehicles discarded by other modern land forces
or, at best, procuring small numbers of new
items. This has primarily been due to financial
constraints as well as governments not needing
expensive, hi-tech equipment to maintain
control or face adversaries.
However, this has changed. Low-level bandits
are now armed with machine guns capable
of destroying a light armoured vehicle or APC,
and their leaders possess extensive practical
experience of operations. The days of sending
out a few jeeps with machine guns are over.
The re-equipping of land forces is taking
quite different forms in West and East Africa,
determined by the nature of current conflicts
and threats. In the former region and parts of the
Sahel and surrounding areas, the focus is on light
but heavily armed forces; whereas in the latter
there is a preference for tanks due to the history
of urban conflict in Mogadishu, Somalia.
DOWN UNDER
In the south, the situation is also different.

There is currently no clarity regarding Angolas
intentions to re-equip itself, and the jury is out on
whether South Africas government will provide
the funding needed to arrest the decline of its
army before it implodes.
The South African Army continues to look
well-equipped and organised on paper, but is
a shadow of its former self. Most of its heavy
equipment is parked up because the service
lacks funds even for maintenance. Apart from
the delayed order for Badger IFVs (reduced from
264 vehicles to 238) placed this year, all major
acquisition projects have stalled.
While under-funding is a critical issue, when
combined with over-extension it becomes fatal.
The armys concept in 1998 was for a maximum
of one battalion deployed externally for one
year: today there are two; for a decade there
were three; and briefly there were four. This
disrupted training and maintenance and left no
money for upgrades and replacement projects,

or even to maintain munitions stocks.
There is some hope in the service that the
positive reception of the recently completed
defence review may translate into funding,
particularly as the cabinet expects more
deployments. Defence Minister Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula has stated that the cabinet understands
there is a choice between further decline or
rebuilding, and that the government will not
allow further decline of the defence force.
He added: The cabinet is of the clear view that
South Africas defence responsibilities cannot
be scaled down. Consequently, the resources
allocated to defence must be commensurate with
South Africas defence responsibilities and tasks.
DWINDLING RESOURCES
For now, however, the situation remains dire.

The mechanised force has four regular units,
with some level of operational capability,
and two mechanised infantry battalions fully
HOT CLIMATE
10
LWI_AugSep14_p10-14_Africa_update.indd 10
08/08/2014 15:13:35
REGIONAL FOCUS
Three Casspir armoured and mine-protected ambulances have been delivered to

the UN for the African Union mission in Somalia. (Photo: Denel Land Systems)
equipped with refurbished Ratel IFVs. There

is one armoured vehicle battalion, with two
companies of upgraded Rooikats, some Ratel
ZT3 missile vehicles and a tank battalion with
two companies of tanks although the Olifant
Mk 2s are more a case of capability retention
than a true operational asset.
The situation for the field and air defence
artillery (ADA) and the field engineers is
similar one partly equipped composite unit
each, with the difference that the ADA has a
battery of new Starstreak VSHORAD systems.
The motorised infantry force is a little better
off, but most of the Casspir and Mamba APCs
are parked, with only a small number
operational. The same problem applies to the
The Olifant MBT has been upgraded by BAE Systems to

Mk II standard. (Photo: South African Army)
fleet of Samil trucks, which are all over 30 years

old. Replacement of the Ratel IFVs, which
are the same age as the Samils, has begun,
with sufficient Badgers ordered to fully equip
two mechanised battalion groups and leave a
training and attrition reserve. More will be
ordered as and when funding allows.
Other key projects such as Vistula (Samil
replacement) and Sapula (Casspir/Mamba
replacement) remain stalled. The former should
have gone ahead some years ago, but became
mired in claims of irregularities after a preferred
bidder was identified. The Mercedes Actros won
the original evaluation, meeting the requirement
and being the cheapest of the three that made it
to a physical evaluation at Gerotek the others
being Iveco and MAN trucks.
The claims proved unfounded, but the tender
was cancelled and, despite the urgency, has not
been reissued. The army then concentrated its
serviceable Samils for operational use, buying
commercial trucks for general use hardly a
cost-effective use of limited funds, but the only
viable option. The decision on Sapula depends
on the Vistula selection, as it is to use the same
driveline components.
ADDRESSING PROBLEMS
A Ratel IFV of the South African Army

test-firing a ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank guided
missile with a range of 5,000m.
(Photo: South African Army)
The artillery has been unable to obtain funding

to upgrade its G5 and G6 guns particularly
with the L52 barrel, which would offer better
range nor has it addressed the problem that
the ammunition for its Bateleur 127mm rocket
launcher is no longer available. It has also
not completed development of Denel Land
Systems Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO)
long-range (30km) 105mm gun that will provide
30km range with base-bleed.
This stalled three years ago when the US Army
selected a self-propelled 155mm gun instead of
a turreted 105mm fitted to the LAV platform, but
it may now go ahead. The turret has been manqualified and there seems to be revived US
interest. The towed version stalled at about
the same time as when the South African Army
stopped funding the project, but the gun and its
ammunition family are perhaps two years from
production status if funded.
The artillery is also examining a new
120mm mortar system for deployment with
airborne forces.
The follow-on GBADS 2 project to acquire an
FCS for the twin 35mm cannon and a SHORAD
system (Denel Dynamics Umkhonto SAM and
Reutech Radar Systems DBRXL radar) has also
stalled due to lack of funding.
Perhaps the most urgent need is for airtransportable armour, which could have made
a major difference to the fighting in Bangui in
March 2013, but that is not even a requirement
yet. The only project is for a light armoured
reconnaissance capability, together with a new
tank and a Rooikat replacement.
The only bright area is in light weapons,
where the Milan ER has replaced the older
variant, problems with the 40mm AGL appear to
have been resolved, and an upgrade of the
R4 rifle is being developed by Denel although
many in the infantry would rather replace it.
SOUTHERN SPENDING
The situation of other armies in southern African

is mixed. Although most governments allocate
a substantially higher proportion of GDP to
defence than South Africas 1.1%, there are few
visible changes.
In Angola, there are reports of a purchase
of T-84 tanks and BTR-80s, and the Angolan
Army has acquired 45 Casspir 2000 mineprotected APCs from Denel Land Systems for
future peace operations. Meanwhile, Namibia
has begun large-scale refurbishment of army
11
08/08/2014 15:13:38
REGIONAL FOCUS
facilities, which some see as an indicator of force

expansion. It has received a number of MAN
trucks and a deployable field hospital from
Germany. Botswana is believed to have
begun upgrading its Krrassier anti-tank vehicles
and has acquired new 155mm artillery and
substantial numbers of MAN trucks. Both
countries are believed to be considering offers of
ex-German Army Leopard 2s.
The Zimbabwe National Army is known to
have received equipment from China, mainly
for internal security roles, with most heavy
equipment neglected. Zambia also does not
appear to have any major projects pending.
Malawi purchased 18 Puma mine-protected
APCs from OTT Technologies in South Africa
The Badger 8x8 APCs turret has been sold overseas to Malaysia, showing that African-built
products can compete internationally. (Photo: Denel Land Systems)
during 2013, as well as six Marauders from

Paramount Group. Mozambique is understood
to have received some trucks and related
equipment in grant, and is evaluating a small
batch of MAN trucks.
DRC Army equipment programmes are
unknown, but it has a number of T-72s in
service up to 100 according to some sources.
These have not been seen in the east of the
country where the security problems lie, but
seem to be concentrated in the western panhandle adjacent to Angolas Cabinda enclave,
which may account for recent nervousness on
Angolas part. Just to the north, and also

bordering Cabinda, the Republic of Congo
acquired 16 Maverick mine-protected APCs from
Paramount Group during 2013.
Tanzania has been a major purchaser of
land forces equipment, including 30 T-59Gs (also
reported as T-96s) between 2011 and 2013,
and unspecified numbers of Type 63A 8x8
105mm armed fire support vehicles. It has also
acquired: Type 07PA self-propelled 120mm
mortar systems; 300mm A100 MRLs; and FB6A
VSHORAD systems. Earlier acquisitions included
at least ten WZ551 APCs in 2011-2012 and
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23/07/2014 16:30
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REGIONAL FOCUS
There has been little land

equipment acquisition in
West Africa recently, as
funds are devoted towards
maritime security.
five Casspirs from South Africa in the

same period.
There has been little land equipment
acquisition in West Africa recently, as funds are
devoted towards maritime security in the face of
piracy and protection for offshore oil and gas
resources. However, this is likely to change
following: rebel successes in Mali and the Central
African Republic (CAR); the escalation of
Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria (now moving in
groups of several hundred in 4x4 vehicles
and attacking military bases) and northern
Cameroon; and the continued instability in Libya
to the north. All of the Sahel countries are going
to have to take the threat of guerrillas, terrorists
and bandits-cum-drug smugglers seriously.
Given the nature of the threat, the focus will

be on equipment suited to counter-insurgency
(COIN). Protected mobility will be a key factor,
particularly for the Nigerian Army, which was
embarrassed in Mali when its contingent was
tasked with rear-area security for lack of suitable
protected vehicles.
A key issue in this respect is that rebel groups
are more experienced and better armed and
led. Lightly armoured COIN vehicles no longer
suffice. Rebels and insurgents can mount
14.5mm HMGs and 23mm cannon on
technicals dealing with them requires a
combination of agility, firepower and protection,
not just some bullet-proofing. The French
learned this quickly in Mali, bringing in 8x8 ICVs,
155mm guns and Tiger attack helicopters after

initial clashes revealed that the rebels were
better led, trained and armed than expected.
There was even a squadron of tanks on standby
if needed. Among the weapons later destroyed
or captured from the rebels were BTR-60s and
BRDM-2s, BM-21s and D-30 guns.
SELEKAS STRENGTH
In December 2012, Seleka rebels in the CAR had

been assessed by several intelligence services to
be about 1,200-strong, but poorly trained and
armed. By March 2013, Seleka had grown to
8,000 and some elements had: new technicals,
all in standard camouflage armed with single
and twin 14.5mm machine guns; recoilless
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08/08/2014 15:13:39
REGIONAL FOCUS
guns; and 30mm AGLs. It is not clear where

this equipment or the sudden proliferation of
radios and satellite telephones came from, but
it shows how quickly the picture can change,
and planners must take that into account.
Nigeria recently acquired 47 BTR-3s for its
army, and since 2006 has acquired 44
Springbuck Mk VI mine-protected patrol vehicles
from DCD Protected Mobility in South Africa for
the police, and intends to take the latter into
local production.
Ghana acquired nine Maverick mineprotected APCs from Paramount Group during
2013 as well as 12 Hunter special forces patrol/
raiding vehicles from OTT Technologies. The
latter is based on the Samil 20 truck, fitted with
multiple machine gun mountings and ample
space for ammunition, stores and water.
Other buyers include: Benin (ten Casspir 2000s);
Equatorial Guinea (12 Reva mine-protected
patrol vehicles); and Sierra Leone (four Mamba
mine-protected APCs and one mine-protected
armoured ambulance from South Africa).
ACTION AREA
The central and eastern regions have seen the

highest levels of conflict and procurement
activity, with a tank race at the centre. Sudan
has acquired 200 T-96As from China and 160
T-72s from Ukraine; South Sudan bought 110
T-72s from Ukraine in 2007-2009; Ethiopia
purchased 250 T-72Bs from Ukraine in 2011 and
there are rumours of 100 T-90s being bought.
Uganda is buying 44 T-90Ss from Russia, with
reports of up to 131 ordered in total, and even
Djibouti has a reported acquisition of 42 T-72s
from Yemen.
While this may surprise at first glance, it was
the fighting in Mogadishu and other towns in
Somalia that once again showed the importance
of tanks in urban combat. Uganda, and
apparently Burundi, acquired upgraded and
up-armoured T-55s for use in Somalia, and both
Uganda and Rwanda had small numbers of old
T-55s that played a key part in their operations in
Zaire (later the DRC). Meanwhile, Uganda
supports South Sudan and might be dragged
14
The South African Army has two companies with upgraded Rooikats. (Photo: South African Army)
into its civil war. This could lead to the latter

intervening with its modern tanks. South
Sudans acquisition of 110 T-72s (before it had
much else in terms of weaponry) was a strategic
gamble that paid off. The army was in no
position to conduct armoured operations, but
the presence of large numbers of tanks, even
in static defensive roles, made any coup by
Khartoum to undo independence impractical
it denied the chance of a quick and clean
reoccupation. Those T-72s later clashed with
Sudanese T-96s around Heglig when the two
sides by then were equally matched in skill if not
numbers of tanks.
BALANCED APPROACH
South Sudan is also building a more balanced

army, adding artillery to its light mobile
infantry and tanks. Key acquisitions include:
towed 130mm M-46 guns; 24 self-propelled
122mm 2S1s; 12 self-propelled 152mm 2S3
guns; and some BM-21s. The Sudan Army,
meanwhile, has acquired some BTR-3Us from
Russia in addition to its new tanks.
Chad has acquired BTR-3s from Ukraine
and Bastion internal security vehicles from
France, the former giving a real edge over rebel
technicals. Further acquisitions seem likely given
that the country is surrounded by conflict (Boko
Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and northern
Cameroon), failed states (Libya and the CAR) and
a hostile neighbour (Sudan).
Uganda has not just focused on vehicles, as
it has also acquired new infantry weapons,
including Chinese 30mm grenade launchers that
are used in handheld and vehicle-mounted forms.
Kenya, heavily engaged in Somalia, has
acquired BRDM-3s from Russia (eight delivered
out of a requirement for 96), Type 92 APCs
from China and Lazar IFVs and self-propelled
155mm/52cal Nora systems from Serbia, as
well as some BM-21s. There are also rumours of
an Mi-28 attack helicopter acquisition.
Although unconfirmed, fighting in Somalia
has shown an urgent requirement for a night-
capable close-air support capability to engage

bunkers in close proximity to friendly forces.
Kenya has also acquired large numbers of
MAN trucks in various configurations and is
considering additional vehicles. The country has
also reportedly bought as many as 44,500 new
assault rifles, 550 light machine guns and 650
anti-tank rocket launchers.
UP NORTH
In North Africa, Morocco and Algeria have been

modernising their ground forces with some
vigour. The former country has added 200 M1
Abrams, 150 Chinese Type 90-2 and 148 Russian
T-72s to its tank force. Meanwhile, Algeria has
added 170 T-90s from Russia and is preparing for
the local manufacture of some 1,200 German
Fuchs 6x6 APCs after acquiring 54 examples
from Rheinmetall. It has also purchased: a
substantial number of ATVs from Germany;
light armoured patrol vehicles from NIMR in
the UAE (also to be built in Algeria); three S300
SAM systems; and some 38 Pantsyr-S mobile
air-defence systems from Russia.
Libya remains a concern to Algeria and others.
While the government is unable to control
events, it has continued to acquire weapons
for its nascent armed forces. Among the
acquisitions over the past two years have been:
300 BRDMs from Serbia; 49 NIMR armoured
patrol vehicles (via Jordan); ten Khrizantema-S
tank destroyers from Russia; 20 Puma APCs from
Italy; and 24 HMMWVs from the US.
The acquisitions of the past few years
have probably set the trend for the next decade
or two. The one open question is whether
South Africa will focus on its regional security
responsibilities or not. If it does, then it will
not just re-equip mechanised and motorised
forces from local sources, but develop a light,
deployable capability that will require vehicles
and weapons suited to neutralising technicals
and bunkers without being too large for airlift
into smallish airfields. That would present a
real challenge. LWI
08/08/2014 15:13:40
OPTICS
Trijicons Continuously
Computed Aiming Solution
combines a 6x ACOG sight
with an LRF and ballistic
computer. (Photo: Trijicon)
or more than a century following their

introduction in the American Civil War,
telescopic sights mounted on rifles were
regarded as a specialist tool for snipers. When
the British Army deployed troops on internal
security duties in Northern Ireland in 1969, they
were armed with the 7.62mm L1A1 Self-Loading
Rifle (SLR) fitted with simple iron sights. The
SLR, like other assault rifles designed during
the early decades of the Cold War, such as the
Soviet AK-47 and the US M14, was intended to
deliver a high volume of fire at comparatively
short ranges.
It quickly became apparent in Northern
Ireland that soldiers had to be able to distinguish
terrorists from civilians and then engage targets
without causing collateral damage. This was
especially challenging in an urban environment.
In 1973, the L2A1 Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux
(SUIT), which provided 4x magnification and
had an 8 field of view (FoV), was introduced for
mounting on SLRs used in Northern Ireland. Its
purpose was threefold: to enhance situational
awareness; enable rapid target acquisition; and
aid precision engagement.
In 1978 the Austrian Army fielded the first
assault rifle designed with an optical sight
as a standard feature the Steyr 5.56mm
AUG bullpup. The Photonic 1.5x sight was
integrated into a carrying handle. A simple
black ring reticle was optimised to allow rapid
acquisition of man-sized targets out to ranges
of 300m.
ACCESSORY ESSENTIALS
The majority of assault rifles developed since

1980 were designed with either integral optical
sights or a flat-top rail system, such as the
MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, to accommodate
both day and night sights. The US DoD
approved the standard for the MIL-STD-1913
in February 1995, and its use quickly became
widespread, not only for attaching day and night
LWI_AugSep14_p15-18_Optics.indd 15
A BRIGHT
SPOT
Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the
advantages of equipping every soldier with optical sights to
improve situation awareness and lethality. Ian Kemp explores
the evolution of such technology.
sights, but other accessories such as lights, laser
pointers and forward grips on the sides and
beneath weapons.
The new STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory
Rail (NAR) is based on the Picatinny rail
and is backwards-compatible with it, but
manufactured to higher tolerances, thus
ensuring a more robust attachment and a
tighter zero.
It was US Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM) which introduced optical sights
into US military service through the Special
Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD)
kit for the 5.56mm M4A1 carbine. In 1995, the
command selected the Trijicon 4x32 Advanced
Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) for SOPMOD
and the following year added the same
companys Reflex sight.
The ACOG uses Trijicons bindon aiming
concept, which permits a both-eyes-open
shooting method and enables accurate
engagements of targets at ranges out to 800m.
A fibre-optic system collects ambient light to
ensure a bright reticle in daytime and low light,
while at night the reticle is illuminated by tritium.
The scope also requires no batteries. Trijicons
Reflex is a battery-free, illuminated sight

designed for close-quarter battle (CQB) use.
Following the invasion of Afghanistan, the
USMC, which has always prided itself on its
marksmanship, conducted trials of the ACOG
that demonstrated a remarkable improvement
in accuracy at ranges out to 600m. Marine Corps
Systems Command bought an initial quantity of
6,000 TA31F 4x ACOGs, which were issued to the
1st Marine Division for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Initially, the ACOG was fitted on the Squad
Advanced Marksman Rifle, an M16A4 with
match-grade barrel and bipod. Maj Gen James
Mattis, the divisions commanding general
during the invasion, noted: The ACOG mounted
on the M16 service rifle has proven to be the
biggest improvement in lethality for the marine
infantryman since the introduction of the M1
Garand in World War II.
DUAL ROLES
For the improved SOPMOD II kit, USSOCOM

selected the Raytheon Elcan Optical
Technologies Specter Dual Role (DR)
designated SU-230/PVS in US service for the
day optic to provide both a long-range
15
08/08/2014 15:14:28
OPTICS
Instead of merely making

improvements to an
existing product, we
started with a completely
new design.
deliberate aiming capability, and a short-range

positive rapid aiming capability for CQB.
In CQB situations, the sight can be used with
both eyes open in 1x red-dot mode (26 FoV)
and switched to a 4x mode with reticle
(6.5 FoV) to engage targets at longer ranges.
The SpecterDR has an integrated backup iron
sight that is boresighted to the scope, and
weighs 700g with mount and is 182mm
in length.
At the January 2014 SHOT Show, Elcan
unveiled the SpecterTR 1-3-9x Tri-FOV
Military Combat Weapon Sight, which it
describes as the worlds first three-FoV optical
weapon sight. The design is intended to
maximise combat effectiveness by providing
precision close-quarter, mid-range and longrange engagement capability.

The 1x FoV provides a 16 viewing angle
and a fast, both-eyes-open target acquisition
capability enhanced by a red dot and at least
70mm eye relief. The second FoV provides a
3x magnified sight with a 6 FoV and range
compensating reticle. At 9x, a 2 viewing
angle provides long-range target detection,
identification and engagement capability.
There are five illumination levels for all three
magnifications. The SpecterTR measures
126.4mm in length and weighs 829g.
In March 2013 following a competitive
evaluation, the US Naval Surface Warfare
Center (NSWC) Crane Division awarded a
five-year firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/

indefinite-quantity contract, potentially worth
$42.8 million, to Leupold & Stevens. Another,
worth up to $8.6 million, was awarded to
teammate Aimpoint for the Enhanced Combat
Optical Sight-Optimized (ECOS-O) project. The
Dual Aperture Gunsight Riflescope (DAGR)
offered by the two companies for ECOS-O
integrates Leupolds Mk 6 3-18x44mm riflescope
with Aimpoints Micro T-1 CQB sight.
MEETING REQUIREMENTS
The DAGR meets USSOCOMs requirement for

a hardened sighting system that offers
unmagnified targeting from 0-300m and
magnified targeting from 300-1,000m. The
Providing defence intelligence worldwide.
Print. Web. Email. You get the idea. Visit ShephardMedia.com
16
08/08/2014 15:14:28
OPTICS
In January 2014, Raytheon

Elcan unveiled the
SpecterTR 1-3-9x Tri-FOV
Military Combat Weapon
Sight. (Photo: Raytheon)
system comes in two configurations, with a

non-illuminated and illuminated reticle in the
Mk 6 scope, and the sight will accommodate
future reticle designs.
The two sights are supplied by the
manufacturers to NSWC Crane, where they are
integrated by armourers into a single unit. The
ECOS-O is primarily intended for use with the
M4/M4A1 carbine and the 7.62mm MK17 SCAR,
although it can also serve on the M14, M16,
MK11 or MK12 rifles, as well as the new MK20
Sniper Support Rifle variant of the SCAR.
Swedens Aimpoint originally developed the
red-dot sight concept for the civilian hunting
market, although the company was quick to
appreciate the military potential as have
INTENS_182x125_25_07_2014.indd 1
numerous other suppliers. Such technology

allows the shooter to rapidly acquire and engage
targets while keeping both eyes open, thus
maximising situation awareness, especially in
close-combat situations.
Aimpoint has sold its red-dot sights to more
than 60 military customers. Since 1996, it has
supplied more than a million battery-powered
non-magnifying red-dot reflex sights, beginning
with the CompM2, progressing through the
CompM3 and CompM4 to the latest CompM4s,
to the US DoD, which designates them as the
M68 Close Combat Optic.
The CompM4 has a top-mounted battery
compartment, whereas the CompM4s sports a
low battery compartment that offers a more
streamlined profile. CompM4-series sights

feature advanced circuit efficiency technology
which provides up to eight years of continuous
use from a single AA battery. Once turned on,
Aimpoint sights stay on, so the optic is ready
whenever the shooter needs to use it, and the
range is compatible with all generations of night
vision devices.
STARTING FRESH
Alongside the Micro T-1, which was introduced

in 2007, Aimpoint has now begun producing
its new Micro T-2 sight. It incorporates a number
of product enhancements that had been
requested by both military and law enforcement
users. Instead of merely making
25/07/2014 18:15
17
08/08/2014 15:14:29
OPTICS
Meprolights Mepro Meslas, mounted here
on the new IWI DAN .338cal sniper rifle,
has recently entered service with the IDF.
(Photo: Meprolight)
During IDF trials, snipers working alone

were able to locate and accurately engage
targets in about 20 seconds, whereas sniper
and spotter pairs, using in-service equipment,
were taking 90 seconds to engage targets,
according to Meprolight. The Meslas has been
fielded by the IDF and some unidentified
European customers. The new IWI DAN
.338cal bolt-action sniper rifle launched at
Eurosatory 2014 was fitted with the Meslas fire
control scope.
COMPUTER-CONTROLLED
improvements to an existing product, we started

with a completely new design, explained
Lennart Ljungfelt, president of the company.
As a result, the Micro T-2 takes the level of
performance available from a compact sight to
an entirely new level. It also provides features
and performance formerly available only in
much larger optics.
A newly designed front lens also provides an
increase in clarity and performance properties.
Other improvements include: a new sight
housing allowing the addition of front and
rear protective flip covers and anti-reflective
devices; additional physical protection for
the sights adjustment turrets; and increased
ruggedness for the sights internal electronic
components. The Micro T-2 can operate for
up to five years of constant on use with
one CR-2032 battery, and is waterproof to
25m depth.
One of the latest assault rifles to enter
production, following a December 2013 contract
for an initial 20,000 weapons, is the 5.56mm IA2
(IMBEL A2) designed by Brazilian state-owned
IMBEL to replace various 5.56mm and 7.62mm
weapons now in Brazilian service. The IA2
features a full-length MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny
top rail.
To equip the new rifles, the Brazilian Army has
selected two sights: the Trisight; and the Multipurpose Aiming Reflex Sight (MARS), developed
by Elbit Systems ITL, which will be produced
locally by the companys Ares Aeroespacial e
Defesa subsidiary.
18
The MARS family combines a high-precision

1x reflex sight with a single or dual-wavelength
laser pointer, either visible red and/or IR. The
reflex dot and laser pointer are collimated at the
factory. Meanwhile, the Trisight is a compact,
lightweight 3x day sight that is available with a
reticle pattern for standalone use and in nonreticle configuration for use with reflex sights
such as ITLs MARS and Raptor.
COMPLETE APPROACH
Some manufacturers now have integrated

ballistic computers with optical sights to
offer snipers a complete aiming solution.
Meprolights Mepro Meslas 10x40 fire control
riflescope features a built-in laser rangefinder
(LRF) to provide snipers with an independent
capability to measure a targets range, thus
reducing the spotters workload and spottersniper communication.
A press on the LRFs remote-control cable
results in an instant vertical repositioning of the
illuminated aiming dot, based on the applicable
pre-selected ballistic table containing weapon
and ammunition data and the measured targets
range. Before shooting, the sniper will need
to factor in atmospheric conditions, and in the
case of moving targets, target speed offset. The
levelling indicator available in the scopes FoV
enables the sniper to engage the target while
the weapon is vertical, thus ensuring ballistic
trajectory is not affected by an accidental
weapon tilt. The system, complete with batteries,
weighs 2kg.
Trijicons Continuously Computed Aiming

Solution (CCAS), introduced at the January
2013 SHOT exhibition, is designed for use
with sniper rifles and machine guns, including
vehicle-mounted weapons. According to
Trijicon, the CCAS replaces the necessity
for advanced marksmanship skills such as
range estimation, windage adjustment and
angle-of-fire adjustment.
The CCAS essentially combines a 6x ACOG
with an LRF and ballistic computer. Users select
their weapon and ammunition type from an
extensive list of common combinations in US
and NATO service and zero the system. Power is
supplied by four CR123 batteries.
The system has ranging capability out to
2,000m and gathers environmental and weather
data, including temperature and atmospheric
pressure. The CCAS calculates for pressure,
angle, range and movement of the target,
automatically adjusting for changes in relation to
the zeroing set-up to provide updated aiming
solutions. Within half a second of activation,
the onboard computer generates a firing
solution and displays an aiming point on the
green reticle.
Systems such as the Mepro Meslas and the
CCAS are initially likely to be limited to use by
snipers, special forces and support weapon
gunners, but the rapid pace of technological
development suggests that less expensive
follow-on versions of such equipment will be
available for more widespread use within
infantry platoons. LWI
08/08/2014 15:14:30
ARTILLERY
Technologies are now available

to greatly increase the accuracy
of indirect fires. David Saw
details the decades-long quest
for precision and examines the
guided munition options
currently on the market.
rtillery has long been of decisive

importance on the battlefield, becoming
one of the most devastating weapons of the
20th century.
What artillery operators were looking for in
the post-1945 era was increased mobility, longer
ranges, increased rates of fire, higher precision
and improved lethality the same things gun
crews ask for today.
World War II saw arrival of self-propelled
artillery, but in many respects not that
much changed in terms of the underlying
technology. In the US military, the M107
155mm HE round came into service in 1959. An
HE nature with TNT or Composition B filling, it
provided blast and fragmentation effects (1,950
steel fragments).
When used from a standard towed M114
155mm howitzer, with its 24.5cal barrel, a
maximum range of some 14.5km could be
achieved. Similar performance was achieved by

the M109 self-propelled gun, while after 1973
the M109A1 variant with 39cal M185 ordnance
could achieve a range of 18km.
EQUAL FIGHTS
While these were effective artillery, better systems

were being fielded by armies that they could end
up confronting. A case in point was the Soviet
M46 130mm field gun that entered service in the
mid-1950s. This weapon could achieve a range of
27km and caused US forces great discomfort
during the Vietnam conflict. All of this led
to programmes to develop new artillery
ammunition and improve ordnance.
One result of this activity was the arrival of the
rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) to increase range.
The US Army introduced the 155mm M549
HE-RAP during the 1970s and the improved
M549A1 HE-RAP at the end of the decade,
offering a 30km range. During the Vietnam era

the 155mm M449 Improved Conventional
Munition (ICM), with its payload of 60 submunitions, improved the effect against troops in
the open.
These sub-munitions allowed a larger area to
be covered and provided higher lethality. US
analysis of combat operations in Vietnam
showed that an M107 HE nature with a TNT
filling provided a casualty percentage of 4.9%.
With a Composition B filling this rose to 7.9%
by comparison the M449 ICM had a casualty
percentage of 31.9%. Other data showed that to
inflict one enemy casualty took 13.6 M107
rounds but only 1.7 ICM rounds.
Elsewhere, work carried out by Dr Gerald Bull
and the Space Research Corporation would lead
to the development of extended-range artillery
in the form of the GC-45, a 45cal 155mm system,
and new ammunition in the form of
BANG ON
TARGET
An M109A6 self-propelled gun participates
in a live fire exercise in Kuwait in February
2012 using the XM1156 PGK and M982
precision-guided rounds. (Photo: US DoD)
LWI_AugSep14_p19-22_Precision_artillery.indd 19
19
08/08/2014 15:15:23
ARTILLERY
A US Army artillery crew installs an ATK
XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit onto a
155mm artillery round at Fort Bliss.
(Photo: ATK)
extended-range full bore (ERFB) and base bleed

(BB) natures.
Bulls work provided the basis for the
Denel G5 artillery system that entered service
in 1983. Since then, South Africa has developed
the Velocity Enhanced Long Range Artillery
Projectile (V-LAP) that has achieved ranges of
67km from a 52cal 155mm system.
On the ICM front, the US developed the DualPurpose Improved Conventional Munition
(DPICM) in the form of the M483 155mm round
with a payload of 88 sub-munitions that arrived
in the 1970s, being superseded in 1975 by the
M483A1. At the end of the 1980s, the M864
DPICM round entered service. It only had 72 submunitions, but this allowed an increase in range
to 29km.
ERROR MESSAGE
The arrival of 39cal, then 45cal and the

52cal ordnance used today, along with
ammunition developments, has seen incredible
improvements in range. But the downside is
that dispersion at extended firing distances
significantly reduces accuracy.
According to findings from the Picatinny
Arsenal facility of the US Armys Research,
Development and Engineering Command,
delivery error increases with range. This is
backed up with some interesting statistics as
regards 155mm rounds. The M795 HE (successor
to the M107 in US service) has a circular error
probable (CEP), a measure of accuracy, of 119m
at a range of 20km. The M864 DPICM has a CEP
of 96m at 20km, while the BB version of the
M864 has a 186m CEP at 28km. The M549 RAP,
by comparison, has a CEP of 267m at 30km.
The higher the CEP, the more inaccurate
the round. In the past, this could
be compensated for by firing more rounds,
but this is no longer a logical course of action.
Firing more implies spending a longer time
in a single position, and therefore increases
vulnerability to counter-battery fire. In addition,
this solution is likely to lead to collateral
damage, something to be avoided in todays
asymmetric warfare conditions.
20
If a DPICM nature is used to address a target,

then the sub-munitions go some way to
compensating for inaccuracy, but as seen
above the BB variant of the M864 is hardly the
most accurate of rounds. In the contemporary
environment, the use of sub-munitions has
negative connotations and the risk of collateral
damage from DPICM natures fired by artillery is
considered to be too high.
COPPERHEAD ROAD
The solution was therefore to introduce

precision-guided ammunition for artillery. Such
rounds had been developed in the past and
employed with various degrees of success. The
US Army used the M712 Copperhead laserguided artillery round, developed in the 1980s,
against hardened targets during both Operation
Desert Storm in 1991 and Iraqi Freedom in 2003,
but it had limited range (16km maximum), and
the need to illuminate the target to action the
engagement was not without risk.
Russia has its equivalent of Copperhead in
the form of the Krasnopol system manufactured
by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula.
This system is laser-guided and available for
both 152mm and 155mm ordnance, with a
maximum range of 20km. Both China and India
are believed to have acquired Krasnopol, and its
technology is thought to have provided the
basis for a number of Chinese laser-guided
artillery round developments.
Although the guidance method employed by
Copperhead and Krasnopol does provide a
precision engagement capability, it suffers from
limited operational utility and range constraints.

The requirement remained for a true precision
engagement capability and, arguably, it is the
US that has led the way in putting this into
operational service, although it is not alone in
having the ability to do so.
DOUBLING UP
The two US contenders in this arena are the ATK

XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) and the
Raytheon Excalibur. The former is added to
existing artillery rounds to increase their
accuracy and effectiveness, while the latter is a
dedicated precision-guided projectile.
Speaking to Land Warfare International at
Eurosatory 2014, spokespeople from both
ATK and Raytheon agreed that there is space in
the marketplace for both systems. The PGK
enhances the accuracy of existing ammunition
in a cost-effective way, but if very high levels of
accuracy are required Excalibur is a better option,
although this increased precision inevitably
comes with a higher price tag. ATK and
Raytheon therefore see PGK and Excalibur as
complementary capabilities.
The roots of the PGK system can be found
in a demonstrator programme covering the
development of a 120mm Precision Guided
Mortar Munition for the US Army. This
effort did not lead anywhere, but it gave
ATK the experience to win a US Army
technology demonstration contract in 2006,
later followed by a system development and
demonstration contract resulting in the
Increment 1 XM1156 PGK.
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21
AFV_205-273_2014-07-09.indd
1
08/08/2014
15:15:25
09/07/2014
15:26
ARTILLERY
The target for Excalibur

was a CEP of less than
10m, but this has long
since been superseded.
The PGK is a GPS guidance kit with fusing

functions that is screwed into the fuse well of
M107 HE, M795 HE and M549A1 HE-RAP natures.
The initial goal was a 50m CEP, with the objective
set at 30m. According to US Army data, at 30km
an M549A1 HE-RAP round fitted with PGK would
have a 50m CEP, in contrast to a standard M549A1
HE-RAP with a 267m CEP. Accuracy has been
further improved, with the PGK now having a
30m CEP. ATK states that the addition of the PGK
means that 75% fewer rounds are required to
successfully engage a target.
The company received its first production
contracts for the US Army and USMC in 2012,
and the system was used successfully in
Afghanistan in 2013, fired from M777 howitzers.
In August the same year, the XM1156 received
its first export contract from Australia for 4,002
kits. Other sales opportunities exist, with the
system having been demonstrated to Sweden,
and both Japan and Singapore showing interest.
Initially, the US had intended to develop a PGK
variant for 105mm ordnance such as the
M119A3 howitzer, but with the army deciding
that it does not want a precision engagement
capability in this calibre and the USMC turning

away from 105mm in favour of 120mm rifled
mortars, Pentagon interest has fallen off. But ATK
told LWI that it still sees other possibilities for a
105mm PGK, noting that the UK is interested in
such an option.
SWORD OF DESTINY
The M982 Excalibur is a joint US/Swedish

programme with Raytheon and BAE Systems
Bofors as contractors. It is a complete finstabilised projectile featuring GPS guidance
and was first fielded in 2007, following a
development programme that began in the
early 1990s. Initial XM982 rounds were fired in
combat in Iraq from May 2007, with the system
subsequently being used in Afghanistan.
Raytheon told LWI that 750 rounds have been
expended in combat thus far, and in June 2012
USMC artillery in Afghanistan successfully
engaged a target at a range of 36km with
Excalibur fired from an M777.
Initially, the target for Excalibur was a CEP of
less than 10m, but this has long since been
superseded. In tests at Yuma Proving Ground, a
German Army interest in precision-guided artillery has

seen both the OTO Melara Vulcano and Raytheon Excalibur
rounds tested from the PzH2000. (Photo: KMW)
22
German PzH2000 self-propelled gun, with

52cal 155mm ordnance, fired a total of ten
Excalibur munitions at ranges from 9-48km,
with each round impacting within three metres
of the target.
Raytheon told LWI that since its entry into
service Excalibur has been incrementally
improved, with current rounds showing
higher accuracy and reliability at a reduced
procurement cost. The company sees Excalibur
as having immense development potential via
the integration of new guidance modes and
payloads such as sub-munitions and dedicated
anti-tank natures.
Apart from the US and Sweden, Excalibur has
reportedly been acquired by Australia and
Canada, among others. Raytheon says that other
export sales are likely in the Middle East and
Asia, with strong interest in Europe from the
Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.
The potential German requirement will involve
competition from OTO Melara and its Vulcano
155mm Guided Long Range system. The Italian
company entered into a strategic alliance with
Diehl Defence in 2012 for the development of
Vulcano for both land and naval applications.
Other options are also emerging. At Eurosatory,
the Rokar subsidiary of BAE Systems unveiled the
Silver Bullet, a precision guidance kit that
can be screwed into the fuse well of 155mm
rounds and features a CEP of less than 20m. The
development programme started in 2007, and
120 test rounds have been fired since 2009.
In France, Nexter Munitions, Junghans T2M
and Zodiac Data Systems are in the final phases
of a system qualification contract awarded by
the DGA procurement agency for the SPACIDO
trajectory correction system. Once this system is
qualified, expected this year, it will be acquired
by the French Army.
Guided artillery projectiles offer increased
accuracy and minimised collateral damage,
with fewer rounds required to create desired
on-target effects. The key determinant though is
how much an operator is prepared to pay for
accuracy the smaller the CEP, the higher
the cost. LWI
08/08/2014 15:15:25
08/08/2014 15:15:59
FORCE MODERNISATION
The budget demands of

2013-2014 are forcing the
IDF to take steps.
n December 2013, Israels Begin-Sadat Center

for Strategic Studies (BESA Center) held a
conference to discuss controversial cuts to the
countrys ground forces. Neglect of the IDFs
ground forces poses a risk to Israels security.
There are real battles ahead against wellentrenched Hamas and Hezbollah armies,
warned the BESA Centers Dr Eitan Shamir.
A paper released at the conference stated:
Dramatic cuts to the IDF budget have forced the
army to reduce its ground forces capabilities.
This is a mistake, as the IDF still must rely on a
capable and credible ground force to deal with
its strategic threats, specifically the rocketlaunching capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The defence budget of NIS65 billion ($16.9
billion) for 2012 was reduced to NIS58.4 billion in
2013 and was originally set at NIS57.7 billion for
this year. These cuts forced the IDF to choose
between two options either strengthening its
relative weaknesses (manoeuvre-oriented
ground forces) or fortifying its relative strengths
(stand-off fire, intelligence, cyber warfare and
special forces). The air force, the IDFs weapon
of choice for developing precision attacks,
favoured the second option, and many within
HARD
CHOICES
the army had to concede that it offered the

prospect of significant savings by reducing the
ground arm.
FORCE REDUCTION
In July 2013, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, a

former army officer who served as IDF Chief of
Staff in 2002-05, approved the IDFs plan to
disband six reserve armour brigades, thus
allowing the Merkava Mk 1 and the Magach 7 (a
locally upgraded version of the US-supplied
M60) tank fleets to be retired. Other cuts include
the axing of up 5,000 regular personnel, a
reduction in training for both active and reserve
components, and the restructuring or
elimination of several procurement projects.
The budget demands of 2013-2014 are
forcing the IDF to take steps, such as reducing
training and operational work for the reserves,
said Yaalon, but our intent is not to hinder the
growth of the IDFs capabilities over the long
term, even as we take risks in the short term.
We will continue to invest in the basic
building blocks of this vision: precise ordnance,
Combat operations in
Gaza have shown that the
combined arms team remains
at the heart of Israels ground
forces. Ian Kemp reports
on army modernisation efforts
in the face of competing
budget pressures.
The IDF will replace its M109s with a

155mm/52cal self-propelled howitzer to
provide an extended-range precision fire
capability. (All photos: IDF)
24
LWI_AugSep14_p24-26_Israel.indd 24
08/08/2014 15:16:51
FORCE MODERNISATION
A second armoured brigade is now being
equipped with the indigenously designed
Merkava Mk 4 tank.
intelligence, electronics, active defence and

cyber defence, with the understanding that the
contemporary and future battlefield will be
utterly different from what we have known in
the past, he explained.
The foreseeable future is liable to see us in
conflicts that will be decided by the IDFs
technological superiority, in the air, on land and
at sea, with fewer heavy weapons systems and a
growing use of smart, unmanned systems.
This vision began to unfold in October 2013
when Brig Gen Shmuel Olansky, the IDFs Chief
Armor Officer, announced the future organisation
of armoured battalions. Each will consist of two
instead of three active duty tank companies, with
the third tank company manned by reservists
equipped with the same type of platform.
The battalion will receive an infantry support
company composed of a reconnaissance
platoon, an observation platoon and a selfpropelled mortar platoon equipped with the
Keshet, an M113-based carrier equipped with
the Elbit Soltam Cardom 120mm mortar. Each
brigade will also include a reconnaissance
company and combat engineer battalion. The
first battalions are being restructured this year.
The Armored Corps is embarking on a new
journey and training its soldiers for a new kind of
battlefield, said Olansky. We are building our
battalions with a lot of firepower, as well as
intelligence-gathering capabilities and the ability
to overcome many obstacles.
MORE MERKAVAS
Central to the armys combined arms teams are

the tank battalions equipped with the Merkava
MBT. Since the days of the 2006 Lebanon War,
which was characterised by poor coordination
between the ground combat arms, the army
has worked hard to improve combined arms
training through the cycle from individual- to
brigade-level.
Introduced into service in 2002, the Merkava
Mk 4 builds on the experience of the Merkava
Tank Office in developing the Mk 1, 2 and 3, and
as with the earlier models, affords a high priority
to survivability. Unlike most tanks, the Merkavas
engine is mounted at the front, allowing the

turret to be located towards the back of the
vehicle, creating additional stowage space at the
rear, which is accessed via clamshell-style doors.
The tank is armed with the locally developed
120mm MG253 smoothbore gun that is able to
launch the IAI LAHAT missile.
The 401st Armored Brigade was the first of the
four active-duty brigades to be equipped with
the Mk 4, while the 7th Armored Brigade is
currently converting from the Mk 2 to the Mk 4.
It is estimated that more than 350 Mk 4s had
been built by early 2014, with the Armored
Corps seeking another 300 or so. Protracted
wrangling over the budget resulted in no Mk 4s
being ordered in 2012.
I have decided that the Merkava production
line will not be stopped despite the budget
limitations, Yaalon told journalists on 13 August
2013. I dont see the tank programme just from
the defence point of view, but also from
economic, social and national points of view. I
understand the need for jobs here.
The IDFs tank fleet needs to be renewed
and we are decommissioning old tanks and
renewing the fleet with the advanced model of
the Merkava. We must not lose our technological
capabilities, and we will continue to procure
Merkava tanks every year.
Since late 2010, every Mk 4 that leaves the
IDFs tank plant in Tel HaShomer has been
equipped with the Rafael Trophy active
protection system, and in mid-2013 the IDF
Army HQ announced that it had completed
installation of Trophy on the 401st Brigades
tanks. Local press reports said that Trophy had

successfully defeated five attacks on armoured
vehicles in the first few days of Operation
Protective Edge in Gaza.
TOO FEW NAMERS
Seven soldiers of the 1st Golani Infantry Brigade

were killed on 20 July when their M113 was
struck by an unspecified anti-tank missile,
provoking criticism in the Israeli media about the
IDFs continued reliance on the 50-year old APC
after it had announced its intention to field the
locally designed Namer in the IDFs mechanised
infantry battalions.
The Namer meets the armys desire for an
APC with identical mobility and comparable
protection to the Merkava. It is gradually
replacing the Achzarit, a heavily modified
T-55 chassis operated by a three-man crew
and able to dismount seven infantrymen.
Despite the installation of a more powerful
engine, the Achzarit cannot match the mobility
of the Merkava and its protection levels are
considered inadequate.
After the Second Lebanon War, the IDF
decided to launch production of the Namer.
With a crew of three, it can carry a full eight-man
infantry section, although a further four
personnel can be squeezed in when necessary,
and a stretcher can be suspended between the
two banks of seating. The Namers armour is
thought to offer protection exceeding NATO
STANAG 4569 Level 4a and b, and the occupants
are seated in wall-mounted blast attenuation
seats over a floating floor.
25
08/08/2014 15:16:53
FORCE MODERNISATION
Since the 2006 Lebanon War, the
army has worked hard to improve
its combined arms training.
The Namer is equipped with a Rafael Samson

RCWS mounting either an FN Herstal 7.62mm
MAG 58 medium machine gun or more usually
a .50cal M2HB heavy machine gun. The army has
been considering arming some Namers with a
30mm RCWS, with competing systems being
offered by Rafael and Elbit, but no vehicles
have been fitted out other than for evaluation.
The Namer is powered by a 1,200hp Teledyne
Continental engine, which it shares with the
Merkava Mk 3.
The first production Namer was unveiled in
2008, and some estimates suggest that as
many as 200 have been built locally. In 2011,
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS)
received an Israeli MoD contract, potentially
worth $800 million, to produce an initial
110 Namers with a firm price option for a
further 276.
Production would be carried out at the US
government-owned, GDLS-operated Joint
Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio,
and continue through 2019 with a full-rate
production of 60 Namers per year. However, as a
result of budget pressures the MoD decided to
cut procurement from 386 to 170 vehicles and
end production in 2017. GDLS delivered the first
batch of seven Namer hulls at the end of 2013
for integration in Israel.
During Operation Protective Edge, the IDF is
using all the armoured equipment at its disposal.
Unfortunately, the small number of Namers is
not enough for all the infantry brigades now
26
fighting in Gaza, an MoD spokesperson told the

Israeli business daily Globes.
Despite the defence ministrys demand over
the years for continued procurement of the
Namer, a measure made necessary by the
threats on various fronts, questionable criticism
was levelled against the need for such a project.
The deep and continued cut in the defence
budget in recent years led to a substantial
scaling back of the project, which prevented
further procurement of this equipment.
NEW HOWITZERS
Within the armys modernisation plans, the

Artillery Corps will be much more capable of
delivering precision fire support. Acquisition
priorities include: a replacement for the 50-yearold M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH);
precision guidance kits for 155mm ammunition;
a GPS-guided unitary warhead for use from the
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS); a
vehicle-mounted radar to locate targets for
Keshet mortar platoons; and additional Elbit
Skylark I tactical UAVs.
To replace a portion of its 500 M109s, the
IDF plans to acquire a new 155mm/52cal
SPH equipped with an automatic loader which
will reduce crew size and provide a multipleround simultaneous-impact capability. With the
introduction of a more capable gun, the army
plans to reduce the size of its artillery battalions
from 18 to 12 guns, organised into three
batteries of four.
The acquisition will be partially funded by

the $3 billion in military aid which the US
government donates to Israel each year, so at
least some of the work will be done in the US. At
least four teams are expected to bid for
the project.
BAE Systems, through its Israeli Rokar
subsidiary, will offer a solution based on the
M109A7 upgrade that it is now producing for
the US Army. Elbit Systems, which acquired
artillery manufacturer Soltam Systems in 2010,
will be able to offer an indigenously designed
solution with work in the US coordinated
through Elbit Systems of America. IAI has
teamed with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)
and Lockheed Martin to offer a solution based
on KMWs Donar Artillery Gun Module mounted
on Lockheeds MLRS chassis. IMI is teamed with
Rheinmetall to offer an M109 upgrade using
the 155mm/52cal barrel which the German
company supplied for KMWs PzH 2000 SPH.
PRECISION FIRE
Two Israeli firms are competing for the 155mm

precision guidance requirement. BAE Systems
Rokar is offering its Silver Bullet GPS-based
guidance kit. According to a company official,
during firing trials in November 2013 four out of
four rounds landed within 5m of the target, and
in February 2014 five out of six rounds achieved
a circular error probable (CEP) of 10m. IAIs
GPS-guided Top Gun precision guidance kit
has demonstrated a CEP better than 10m at
any range.
In mid-2011 the IDF revealed that the Tamuz,
a 25km range version of the Rafael Spike NLOS
missile mounted on an M113 launcher vehicle,
had been in service since the 1980s and was first
used during the 2006 Lebanon War. Officials
have said more no missiles will be bought when
existing stocks are exhausted.
The Artillery Corps has recently formed its first
battalion equipped with the IMI Accular, a
160mm GPS-guided surface-to-surface rocket
which can achieve a CEP of 10m at ranges
between 14-40km. IMIs 300mm EXTRA, which
has a range of 150km, is expected to follow. LWI
08/08/2014 15:16:53
08/08/2014 15:17:11
ASSAULT RIFLES
The SCAR rifle is a development of the M16.

It was selected by USSOCOM and has been
popular with other special forces units.
(Photo: FN Herstal)
odern assault rifles are changing

shape, with designs being altered
ergonomically to reflect wider usage and
the need for reduced maintenance. The main
requirement, however, is for these weapons to
be able to mount a selection of accessories, from
optics to additional armaments.
New offerings often come as extensions to
existing weapons families, which provide higher
levels of parts commonality, as well as with MILSTD-1913 Picatinny rails on every available surface
to ensure compatibility with the latest accessories.
Gil Wainman, marketing director at Israel
Weapon Industries (IWI), told Land Warfare
International that the companys latest offerings
include two assault rifle families Tavor and
ACE to meet the respective market demands
for bullpup and traditional configurations.
TAKING STOCK
With bullpup rifles, the firing mechanism is in

the stock so that the centre of gravity is at the
back this is very helpful for soldiers with heavy
kit as it places the weight of the rifle in the
shoulder and not on the arm, plus it is very
accurate, he explained.
One feature of the Tavor that is becoming
more common across all rifle designs is greater
symmetry to make it ambidextrous. Only the bolt
moves from left to right, and this allows left- and
right-handed soldiers to use the rifle in their
natural posture.
The configuration of the rifle can be changed,
and it has semi- and fully automatic firing
capabilities, with a Picatinny rail along the top for
additional items. IWI found that a bullpup rifle
with an integrated sight was the most suitable for
development when the IDF selected its new rifle
ten years ago.
Tavor has been the standard IDF rifle since
2005, but IWI has since added the X95 model
which is designed to operate in all climates.
Wainman said that it can also be changed to a
9mm sub-machine gun.
This means there is less budget required to buy
a new rifle and conversion kit, he noted. There is
60% commonality and this means less spares and
28
Bullpup or
traditional?
Upgrade or
acquisition?
Tim Fish
examines how
militaries around
the world are
approaching their
current and future
inventories of
assault rifles and
what new trends
are emerging.
PULLING THE
more logistics savings. An army like France has
the FAMAS and MP5 separate, but with X95 you
have the same rifle and the only difference is the
calibre so there is reduced training time as well.
CONVERSION KITS
To convert the X95 to 9mm requires replacing

the barrel, firing mechanism and breech. A
closed bolt is possible for the sub-machine gun
and there is a magazine adapter for a 32-round
9mm magazine.
To enable this, there is reduced friction in the
bolt and moving parts, and they are made to be
interchangeable, Wainman said. The lock of the
bolt is against the barrel and there is reduced
sensitivity to dirt, sand and soot. There is a large
piston so there is a reduced need to clean, and
only small amounts of lubricant are needed to
keep the action operating smoothly.
LWI_AugSep14_p28-32_Assault_rifles.indd 28
The X95 was also designed with reduced lifecycle costs in mind, and the barrel has a lifespan
of around 25,000 rounds. According to
Wainman, the average soldier uses 1,000 rounds
per year, so this equates to a 25-year life cycle
the bolt can reach 50,000 rounds. The
replacement of parts is minimised and therefore
maintenance is minimised, he noted.
IWI has kept a second production line for the
more traditional ACE family. The ACE N 22 fires
5.56mm ammunition and is based on the Galil,
which used to be the IDFs standard rifle.
Wainman said that IWI used the basic Galil
design for ACE because it was robust, although
it changed the ergonomics to make it easier to
use. It added a telescopic stock, Picatinny rails
and when firing 5.56mm the gun is available in
three models long barrel, short barrel and with
the NATO magazine.
08/08/2014 15:18:52
ASSAULT RIFLES
NG THE TRIGGER
The ACE 22 was selected by Chile in late
2013. Natan Hendler, VP of marketing for Latin
America at IWI, told LWI: IWI will build the rifle
in cooperation with the Chilean armaments
manufacturer FAMAE [Fbricas y Maestranzas
del Ejrcito], he said. Most of the main parts of
the rifle will be made in Chile.
The number of rifles, delivery schedule and
value of the contract could be disclosed, but LWI
understands it is in the region of $30 million.
EASTERN PROMISE
Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) has a

similar development pattern and has produced
the Conventional Multi-role Combat Rifle (CMCR)
and the Bullpup Multi-role Combat Rifle (BMCR) to
cater for both customer preferences in the market.
The rifles can be operated by both left- and
right-handed soldiers by moving the bolt with a
switch on each side. The CMCR has a high level

of modularity to increase its flexibility, and is
available in standard machine gun mode or as a
marksmans rifle.
The BMCR has a forward ejection system for
spent rounds, so there is no issue for left-handed
users, and it is easy to fire from both shoulders by
all riflemen. There is a dual magazine release with
catches behind the magazine and above the grip.
A spokesperson at STK told LWI that work on
the rifles started late in 2013 and the BMCR is
expected to go into production soon after some
prototypes are tested to NATO standards by STK.
The CMCR development will be out soon.
A model of the CMCR was released at the
Singapore Airshow this year along with the
BMCR, which is claimed to be the shortest
bullpup rifle design in the world, with a barrel
14.5in long.
Other BMCR changes highlighted by STK

include an ergonomically improved cheek
rest, and when cocking the rifle there is a large
chamber to view so that more can be seen and
stoppages easily rectified during drills.
The bullpup rifle is marketed to bullpup
countries, CMCR is for the rest, the spokesperson
said. It is like the M16 design, but has other
design features. The multimodal buttstock is not
a traditional design there is no buffer fibre and
it has other functions. It can be extended and
you can adjust the height for the chest, so it can
be tilted to a better degree for firing underslung
grenade launchers.
Other stocks fold to the side, but this is too
bulky this one folds underneath, downwards,
and can make a shorter weapon as a result. The
cheek rest also becomes additional support on
the body.
29
08/08/2014 15:18:53
ASSAULT RIFLES
The NZDF has decided to replace the ageing

Steyr AUG F88 assault rifle under a new
acquisition programme instead of upgrading
the weapon. (Photo: New Zealand Defence Force)
ANNIVERSARY REPLACEMENT
STK is looking ahead to the expected

replacement of the SAR 21 bullpup in service
with the Singapore Army. France is expected to
replace its FAMAS bullpup as well, although that
is some way off.
The spokesperson said that the SAR 21 has
been in service for 15 years and the Singapore
Army may look for a new rifle at the 20-year
mark. If we see the need to change the rifle, STK
will bid for the tender, he said. It is best to get
the Singapore Army under contract before
exporting the BMCR/CMCR rifle, so [we] can
show it works. A FAMAS bid would come after.
FN Herstal is also going to compete for the
French FAMAS replacement. The company has
seen recent success with its SCAR family of
assault rifles, with a spokesperson telling LWI that
it has been adopted by special forces (SF) units
on all continents.
USSOCOM selected the SCAR in 2008 as a
replacement for the M16 and M4, and the
Belgian Army selected the SCAR-L and SCAR-H
rifles for its SF units. The SCAR family is an
M16 clone, but it has been redesigned with
Picatinny rails and a handguard across the top
and weighs just 3.1kg.
The representative added that FN has focused
on developing a reliable magazine from metal:
Most failures are in the magazine, so we make a
fully guided magazine from sheet steel and
aluminium. We dont want to reduce weight
here, it is not necessary.
DOWN UNDER
In Australia, under the Land 125 Phase 3C

programme, Thales Australia is providing the
F90 assault rifle upgrade. The F90 is a bullpup
design based on the F88 Austeyr rifle and
includes an integrated side-loading 40mm
grenade launcher.
Graham Evenden, director of integrated
soldier systems at Thales Australia, told LWI the
rifle and SL40 grenade launcher have finished
qualification testing and achieved provisional
design acceptance from the army. Second pass
approval is scheduled for June 2015.
He said that the F90 offers significant
advantages over the earlier F88 rifle, with
enhanced reliability in all climates, especially
hot and sandy conditions. Furthermore, there
has been the introduction of new materials
that are lightweight and stronger than
aluminium, to ensure longer life while enduring
rough handling.
The F90 weighs 3.25kg, and savings include
a 400g reduction in the rifle, with about
1.63kg in the grenade launcher. The design also
includes a folding cocking handle that avoids
damage during transit and rough handling,
and a tri-rail system that enables the addition of
larger optronic devices.
The CMCR from

STK is a traditional
rifle design with
additional Picatinny
rails at the 12, 6, 3
and 9 oclock
positions.
(Photo: ST Kinetics)
30
Importantly, all weight reduction was from

forward of the centre of gravity [CG], so moving
the CG rearward closer to the firers shoulder,
explained Evenden. Bullpup rifles are already
better in this area than conventional designs, but
this change means that very little weight is on top
of the leading hand. This enables faster target
acquisition times and increased probability of
first-round hit in CQB environments.
DESIGN DEBATES
The bullpup versus traditional rifle argument

continues. Evenden explained that there is
a lobby that does not like the bullpup,
highlighting all the new fads and modifications
being applied to traditional rifles as a reason why
bullpups are inferior.
The fads he describes are those proposed by
OEMs in recent years that are trying to tweak
traditional rifle designs like the M16/M4 family
to create a point of distance. He said: Only after
OEMs took these features to market was an
argument developed that this was necessary to
cater for different levels of load carriage and
body armour systems that the soldier may wear,
and may also have an impact on eye relief.
Ultimately, when these modifications are
compared to the ability to adopt a steady fire
position using cover, judge distance, control
breathing and apply marksmanship principles to
shoot straight in high-stress battle situations,
they pale into insignificance, said Evenden.
NEW WAVES
One other key trend is the return of the 7.62mm

calibre weapon into infantry sections. There is a
perception, or in some cases fact, that 5.56mm
does not achieve target incapacitation in close
combat. Evenden said that heavier ammunition
like 7.62mm may achieve this, but there will be a
weight penalty as the round is double the
08/08/2014 15:18:55
08/08/2014 15:18:55
ASSAULT RIFLES
weight and the weapons to fire them are usually

about 1kg heavier than most 5.56mm rifles.
He added that the ability to shoot 7.62mm
weapons well also requires greater skill across all
platforms than 5.56mm, creating an additional
training burden.
Bullpup weapons are easier to fire whatever
the calibre. Some countries have tried to avoid
this 7.62mm weight and training burden by
introducing the term dedicated marksman,
and of course they are equipped with a
dedicated marksman rifle [DMR], he said. While
I support the concept of a DMR to shoot longer
ranges from within the section, it does not fully
tackle the shortcomings of the 5.56mm round.
As a solution, Thales is developing 5.56mm F9
Enhanced Lethality Small Arms Ammunition
that is intended to provide consistent
rapid incapacitation effect in a 5.56mm weight
package.
Overall, countries prefer to upgrade existing
rifles, as most of the costs are in the support of
the weapons rather than the acquisition itself.
For example, the UK has stuck with its SA80,
heavily modifying it to A2 standard under a
contract with Heckler & Koch, including a large
weight increase forward of the CG.
The next bullpup rifle to enter service

will be the Thales F90 upgrade of the
Australian Austeyr F88. This is the F90(G)
variant that features an underslung sideloading grenade launcher. (Photo: Thales)
Defence Force (NZDF), with its Individual Weapon

Replacement Programme (IWRP).
This effort was initiated in March 2014
following the cancellation of the Individual
Weapon Steyr programme because the
tendered responses were out of the scope of the
planned upgrade project. Instead, a new rifle will
be procured and introduced into service by the
end of 2016 and allocated to the three services
receiving them.
The IWRP will deliver a new inventory of up to
8,800 rifles and accessories. The approximate
breakdown is New Zealand Army 4,000, Royal
New Zealand Navy 700 and Royal New
Zealand Air Force 1,000, with the remainder
divided across reserve stocks.
OFF THE SHELF
WIDER EFFORTS
Furthermore, Colt Canada is upgrading the

Canadian C7 and C8 weapons, and the US
cancelled its replacement M4 programme (the
Individual Carbine) in 2013 and is instead
continuing with an upgrade to the 500,000
M4/M4A1 rifles in its inventory after complaints
about reliability.
Colt completed about 10,000 modified rifle
deliveries in 2013, but in February the US Army
ordered a further 60,000 conversions from rival FN
Herstal. In June 2014, FN completed the delivery
of a first batch of 9,547 M4A1s converted from
M4s by the service under modification work
orders (MWOs) using kits manufactured at
Anniston Army Depot. The next planned MWO
conversion will run from July to September.
The only example of an upcoming new assault
rifle programme comes from the New Zealand
32
Maj Shane Ruane, programme manager of

the In Service Weapons Replacement/Upgrade
Programme, told LWI that the new rifle
must be: military off-the-shelf; chambered
for 5.56x45mm NATO rounds; open architecture
in design, with top, side and bottom rail
configurations to accept a variety of missionspecific accessories/ancillaries; and the IW must
be able to fit an underbarrel, detachable 40mm
low-velocity grenade launcher and associated
sighting system.
We are [at this stage] only looking at one
standard rifle that, as a result of its open
architecture design, can be configured to suit
various mission and trade profiles by changing
the accessories and ancillaries fitted on the rifle,
he said.
The reason for the replacement is that the
Steyr has been in service for more than 20 years,
and Ruane said that the technology had

advanced considerably since the NZDF
purchased the weapon in 1987.
He added that apart from its age, the main
issue with the rifle was its closed architecture
design. This precluded the use of in-line night
sights or more powerful day optics and the
fitting of other accessories/ancillaries to the
standard weapon, allowing it to be configured/
tailored to suit the mission profile, he explained.
One of the main requirements for the new
rifle is for an improved detect, recognise and
identify capability at longer ranges than is
possible using the existing 1.5x Steyr scope.
There are also plans for different barrel lengths
to improve range, as the rifle must be capable
of effectively engaging a static adversary at
distances from close quarters out to at least
600m by day and 300m by night.
The request for tender for the competition will
be released at the end of August and closed
in October. The NZDF will then evaluate the
responses, and a downselection will take place
for a physical evaluation in Q1 2015.
Once the new rifle has been identified, the
MoD will commence contract negotiation with
the selected manufacturer, which should
be announced in the second half of 2015,
Ruane added, noting that 14 companies had
responded to an earlier RfI, and the NZDF has
conducted an analysis of similar requirements in
Australia, Canada and the US, as well as from the
earlier acquisition of the Steyr. LWI
08/08/2014 15:18:57
INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
Over 275,000 Osprey body

armour vests have been
delivered to the British Army to
date. (Photo: Crown Copyright)
BODY
OF WORK
Soldier modernisation efforts around the world are resulting in
some exciting developments in body armour, with unprecedented
levels of protection, mobility and functionality being promised.
Adam Wakeling reviews recent progress.
n what could be a defining moment in the

body armour market, US Special Operations
Command (USSOCOM) began reviewing
the first unpowered prototypes of the Tactical
Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) in June.
With mainstream media likening earlier
concept drawings to the futuristic Iron Man suit
from the comics and films, the full-body suit of
armour could be the design catalyst that leads
other militaries to consider personal protection
beyond traditional front, back and side plates.
TALOS is structured under a five-year
development programme that aims to have full
operational capability in place by August 2018,
including C4I, power, protection, mobility, agility
and survivability subsystems. The helmet will
provide protection against 7.62mm ammunition
and include an active air bladder system
to reduce blunt trauma injuries, while an
exoskeleton spine will ensure the weight burden
on the users head is significantly reduced.
Initial designs are claimed to provide up to 44%
additional protection than armour currently
in use.
Speaking to Land Warfare International
before the unveiling on 19 June, Mike Fieldson,
USSOCOM programme manager for TALOS,
LWI_AugSep14_p33-35_Body_armour.indd 33
said: We dont know what this system is going to

look like. Its not going to look like an Iron Man
suit its going to look like the most functional
system it can be It has been a long time since
people fought in suits of armour.
This programme is part of a wider trend in

recent years to modernise the soldier, providing
better protection, situation awareness and
information dissemination capabilities.
A number of countries have invested in
similar, although arguably less ambitious,
TAKING THE LOAD
Revision Military is one of the companies

involved in developing prototypes for TALOS,
leveraging its helmet technology and Prowler
load-carriage system a near-skin worn, lowerbody augmentation suit claimed to reduce
applied stress to the knee by one third under
combat load conditions, something essential in
a system that will include numerous sensors and
full-body protection.
Earlier in 2014, Revision acquired power
management technology company Panacis,
which develops Lithium-ion energy storage
systems a move that could be linked to TALOS.
This may put the company in a strong position
on the programme, adding battery solutions to
its expertise in materials and load carriage.
At the time of going to press, Revision
was unable to reveal any details of the TALOS
unveiling to LWI due to its classified nature,
noting only that the event went well.
Morgans ceramic
plates form part of
the British Armys
Osprey vest.
(Photo: Morgan
Advanced
Materials)
33
08/08/2014 15:20:56
INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
efforts, including: Australia with Project Land

125; the British Armys Future Integrated
Soldier Technology (FIST); Frances Fantassin
quipement et Liaisons Intgrs (FLIN);
Germanys Infanterist der Zukunft (IdZ); Italys
Soldato Futuro; Russias Ratnik (Warrior); and
Swedens MARKUS. Due to the slow progress of
many, however, only minor improvements have
been seen by soldiers.
FLIN GOOD
The most mature project is the Sagem-developed

FLIN, an integrated system with personal
protection and C4ISR subsystems like TALOS, but
with less overall ballistic protection (Level 4) . It
has been deployed since 2009-2010 and a total of
14 infantry regiments have been fully equipped,
equating to over 10,000 soldiers. Plans are to outfit
over 20,000 troops.
The system has been used in Afghanistan by
two French Army battalions, which conducted
around 130 major operations between them.
The 6th Mechanised Infantry Battalion was
also training with FLIN in early 2014 before
deploying to the Central African Republic as part
of Operation Sangaris. Plans for 2016 include
design revisions to further reduce loads and
optimise the weight transfer between body
and waist.
Russia is also aiming to keep up with the
modernisation efforts of its Western counterparts, and Ratnik has been undergoing trials over
the past two years. Comprising around 40-50
components and weighing 20kg (circa 4kg less
than FLIN, although this total might not include
weaponry), the breathable armour is designed
for 48-hour continuous use, with polymeric
compound fabrics, ceramic plates and Kevlar
providing high ballistic and minor fragmentation
protection levels.
The helmet will be able to repel a bullet (of an
as yet unspecified calibre) fired at close range
(5-10m). Moscow is due to make a purchase
decision in 2014.
Russia is also investing in nano-technology
R&D for body armour applications through the
NEVZ-Soyuz company, likely under its ceramics
34
Female-specific body armour has only

recently come to the fore in the US, solving
the issues of wearer discomfort and
movement restrictions. (Photo: US Army)
division, with possible implications for the

Ratnik effort.
There are also media reports that the country
has developed a new generation of body
armour, identified during the conflict in Ukraine,
potentially capable of deflecting NATOs basic
5.56mm rifle round.
STAYING STRONG
Outside modernisation programmes, the

market for traditional body armour remains
healthy despite reductions in operational tempo
following the US surge in Afghanistan and
widespread defence cuts.
Revision Military was awarded a $9.5 million
contract by the Canadian Armed Forces in
November 2013 for its lightweight Batlskin
Bullet Resistant Plates. Deliveries were due
to commence in April, and the contract
includes five option years. The company
previously supplied Canada with ballistic
eyewear and helmets.
Ceradyne received a $151.2 million second
option order for its Enhanced Small Arms
Protective Insert (ESAPI) in March 2013 from the
US government, which follows a $2.37 billion
indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract
originally issued in 2008. Meanwhile, BAE
Systems continues to fulfil its own $10.2 million
ESAPI contract, and won a further $89.5 million
modification at the end of June, exercising the
second option year. Deliveries will be completed
through 1 July 2015.
New Hampshire-based Warwick Mills also
won a $94.3 million contract from the US Army
for concealable body armour and vests in

May last year, reportedly the largest in some
time for the company and a breakthrough in
terms of reaching its domestic market Europe
had previously constituted the firms main
customer base.
In May 2014, Morgan Advanced Materials
announced the award of two new Canadian
body armour development contracts for
Level 3 and Level 4 protection. This follows
the publication of Canadas Soldier System
Technology Roadmap, which focused on high
threat levels and multi-hit requirements. Both
contracts will run until March 2016, with options
for production extending until March 2021.
WEIGHT CONCERNS
Morgans ceramic inserts also form part of CQCs

Osprey body armour, which is in its Mk 4A
iteration and in service with the British Army.
With over 275,000 delivered to date, the kit
has been a commercial success, although it has
faced some criticism from users for its overall
bulkiness and operational inflexibility as is
indeed the case for a number of other standardissue body armour systems deployed around
the world.
Morgan told LWI it is demonstrating its new
Lightweight Armour Soldier Architecture (LASA)
to a number of countries, including Canada, with
the hope of securing its first order.
The company displayed the system at
Defence Services Asia 2014 in Kuala Lumpur
in April, and at CANSEC in Ottawa in May,
highlighting its 25% weight reduction compared
08/08/2014 15:20:57
INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
DARPAs Warrior Web,

although not directly
part of TALOS, is helping
drive innovation in soldier
load carriage efforts.
(Photo: DARPA)
to previous systems, improved mobility and

reduction in wearer fatigue.
The full outfit includes: a vest/load carriage
element with NIJ 3+, 3++ or 4+ plates; side
plates; head protection at a claimed 30% weight
reduction over in-service products; soft armour
pelvic protection; knee pads; and a range
of accessories from NVGs to brassard and
collar armour.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Don Bray, business director for armour at

Morgan Composites and Defence Systems, told
LWI: Morgan is working under contract with
several governments [including Canada and
the US] right now developing next-generation
body armour.
The specs are somewhat different between
[the countries] and they each have their own
threat and weight targets, but basically we are
trying to take the weight of the highest-level
plates whether it be ESAPI [in the US] or
plates in Canada and taking 10 to 15, even
20% weight out of them at the same level of
protection. Thats the real goal.
He added that in the past, developers used
silicon carbide and boron carbide, or both,
but Morgan has developed new hybrid
carbide materials.
This involves optimising the microstructure
for hardness and toughness as well as
the various ceramic properties for ballistic
performance, which is still a little bit more of an
art than a science. There is not really a direct
correlation between a fundamental material
property and ballistic properties it is still

something that eludes the industry. We started
hybrid carbon boride development around
two years ago, and now that is in production in
the US, going into some higher-level, lowerweight plates.
WOMANS REALM
Personal protection systems have traditionally

catered only for men. Often, female soldiers have
had to cope with ergonomic compromises,
resulting in potential discomfort and a negative
effect on operational performance. However,
things have begun to change.
Following Gen II Improved Outer Tactical Vest
(IOTV) fit and manoeuvrability issues reported by
female soldiers in the US in 2009, a collaborative
effort between the Natick Soldier Research,
Development and Engineering Center and
Program Executive Office Soldier in 2011
resulted in an IOTV designed for females serving
in the army.
Revisions to the design included narrower
shoulders, greater chest space and smaller plates
inserted at slightly different locations, and the
new armour was operationally tested by the
101st Airborne Divisions 1st Brigade, with wider
fielding beginning in the second half of 2012.
IOTV Gen III is produced by a number of
companies, including BAE Systems, Creative
Apparel Associates, KDH Defense Systems,
Point Blank Body Armor, Protective Products
Enterprises and UNICOR.
With the move to flexible and multi-plate
armour, it becomes even more possible to do
something female-specific, commented Bray. It

is somewhat politically driven, and I think as it
is accepted in the US and we start gearing up
production, it will spread to Canada and the UK,
because there tends to be a lot of interest in
treating everyone the same.
The US has a much bigger army, so due to the
economies of scale, it is probably the easiest
place to do it. But I think there would be just as
much driving force in Canada and the UK to at
least consider it the next time they go through
an upgrade of their armour systems.
EMERGING MARKETS
Although high-value body armour contracts

tend to derive from the big three Canada, the
UK and the US industry is active in trying to
identify potentially lucrative emerging markets.
The US is still the biggest market,
acknowledged Bray. There is a new five-year
IDIQ contract coming out for the special forces
estimated to be 30,000 plates a year, which is the
equivalent to what the whole of the UK MoD
would buy each year, so US special forces is still a
pretty good target they will also upgrade more
often than the big armies will.
[However], we just completed a global
market study on body armour in 70 countries,
and there are a number of emerging markets
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea,
among others. There is probably a bigger
market outside [of Canada, the UK and the
US] than inside them over the next five or
ten years.
The worldwide body armour market was
estimated to be worth $2.4 billion in 2013 and
reach $3.7 billion by 2023, according to a
Strategic Defense Intelligence study. With the
soft armour segment predicted to account for
30.5% and hard armour 29.7%, as well as reports
predicting that weight reduction efforts will
remain the primary development driver, the
proliferation of traditional front and back
protection is unlikely to change any time soon.
Whether TALOS leads other nations down a fully
protected and integrated route remains to
be seen. LWI
35
08/08/2014 15:20:58
PARTING SHOT
Stephan Burger, CEO of Denel Land Systems, talks to

Helmoed-Rmer Heitman about the African marketplace and
how the company will position itself for exports.
ACCESSING
AFRICA
D
enel Land Systems, incorporating the

Mechem business unit, first made its
name internationally with long-range artillery,
but is today perhaps best known in Africa for
its mine clearance work.
CEO Stephan Burger explained that
de-mining is the companys first focus, and this
requirement is increasing. The sad truth is that it
is likely to continue increasing for some time,
he acknowledged. We are currently clearing
explosive remnants of war in several African
countries, mostly for the UN, for whom we have
just completed contracts in Libya and Western
Sahara, and have teams working in the DRC,
Senegal, South Sudan and Somalia.
Other teams are working in Angola and
Mozambique, contracted by energy companies
who need to clear areas in which they must
work. We believe we are the biggest in Africa in
this role, with some 500 people deployed today,
including a substantial number recruited in the
countries concerned.
PROTECTING PEOPLE
Mechem has also begun establishing and

operating bases for itself in Somalia and
Mozambique, and for the UN in Somalia. Burger
said this could become a growing business. It is
not without risk, and we will have to put in place
all measures to protect our people, who are our
priority, he acknowledged.
Denel remains a major actor in several areas of
the defence industry, and Africa is a strategic
market for the company, particularly in land
systems. Burger explained that this is so for
two reasons: While we are a business and must
generate revenue and profit, that is not the reason
for our existence that is to support the strategic
initiatives of the South African government.
These are strongly focused on Africa, and Burger
36
notes that as the closest company of its kind to

sub-Saharan Africa, Denel Land Systems is well
positioned in purely business terms.
Africa, I think, is different to many of our other
clients in the rest of the world. Most have very
formal RfP processes, clear requirements and
well-developed tender evaluation systems, but
Africa is a little different. There is less focus on
formal processes and more on finding a solution
to a given problem, which very seldom relates
to a single product offering and more often than
not requires a basket of things, sometimes
unrelated to each other except in regard to
that problem.
Because of this, Africa has in the past been
exploited, being supplied with sub-standard
products and more often than not without
proper product support. [As] suppliers have in
the past often just offered solutions that they
had available, often with no long-term support,
there is a perception that we are very expensive
when we propose a proper package.
However, Burger offered some worlds of
caution. Africa is not a region in which it is easy
to do business. If one does not approach at the
political level, things can fail or take a very long
time proposals must be based on providing
a total solution, not simply delivering some
products, and financing or barter will often have
to be part of the solution.
VEHICLE OF CHOICE
Denel has exported its new Casspir NG 2000 into

Africa, and has reported serious interest in a new
family of trucks with protected cabs that it is
offering in conjunction with Powerstar.
The Casspir remains the vehicle of choice for
the UN, which has bought several, and we have
sold the Casspir NG 2000 to Angola and Benin,
with growing interest from several other
LWI_AugSep14_p36_Interview.indd 36
countries. It is our workhorse not fancy, but gives

effective protection. It is reliable, cost-effective and
well suited to an army that must operate far from
bases and over poor roads, or even cross-country.
Infantry weapons also produce a steady flow
of revenue, albeit mainly in small batches. Some,
like the long-range 60mm mortar (6,000m),
are also well suited to the African battlespace,
particularly in palletised form designed for light
vehicles and integrated with a fire control
system. Light turrets are also of interest and
artillery remains a major focus area.
Burger said that discussions are in hand with
at least three countries interested in the
155mm G6 howitzer and truck-mounted T6,
while the companys long-range 105mm gun is
awaiting a launch customer. He hopes that the
South African Army could fill this role once its
funding improves.
I see Denel Land Systems as a prime
contractor and provider of system solutions to
clients, Burger noted, adding that this means
coordinating an industry-wide solution rather
than providing everything itself, achieving this
goal through long-term partnerships. This is
not making a quick buck, selling something and
running away.
Burger concluded by saying that the
company is aligned with the South African
governments strategic aims, and the export
business will focus on government-togovernment-led long-term solutions. LWI
08/08/2014 15:21:47
Photo by: Sgt. Eric S. Wilterdink
September 23-25, 2014

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08/08/2014 15:22:21

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Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL

s Land Warfare International goes to press

In July France initiated a new counter-terror

the development of sovereign capabilities for

regional cooperation stretching from the

Companies will have to be more than half

Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL

RUSSIA TO COUNTER SANCTIONS

Photo: Russian MoD

The Russian government plans to increase

According to an MoD spokesperson, a

The Astais-VBL effort is not the only

LOC WINS BRADLEY IFV CONTRACT

track kits, shock absorber kits, vehicle

LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4

of contract is normally sole-sourced to the

NEWS ON THE WEB

Logos wins hostile fire detection

Successful GMLRS Alternate

French military vehicles manufacturer Nexter and

The company is also involved in the production

MEADS system demo success

General Dynamics wins Peruvian

Cubic receives I-MILES TVS

Interest grows in APKWS

Saab looks to fulfil Philippine air

Microdata highlights crisis

All these stories can be found

Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL

DJIBOUTI PARADES NEW VEHICLES

There were no tanks on parade and most

armoured vehicles and a number of HMMWVs,

PLA DISPLAYS NEW SMALL ARMS AT OPEN DAY

The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA)

On the 17th anniversary of the return of Hong

LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4

designed to fit the latest Type 95-1 rifle. This 1kg

Photo: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

TOKYO OUTLINES JGSDF CHANGES

Troop numbers are expected to remain at

Army. In addition, howitzers deployed in basic

Under the New Mid-Term Defense Program,

LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4

next generation of surface-to-air guided missiles

Japan has already made initial efforts to enter

African armies have struggled with

fricas armies have long been neglected,

In the south, the situation is also different.

money for upgrades and replacement projects,

For now, however, the situation remains dire.

LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4

Three Casspir armoured and mine-protected ambulances have been delivered to

equipped with refurbished Ratel IFVs. There

The Olifant MBT has been upgraded by BAE Systems to

fleet of Samil trucks, which are all over 30 years

A Ratel IFV of the South African Army